CNN closing offices as COVID-19 cases rise

CNN is closing its offices to employees who do not need to work in person. 

In an internal memo to employees on Saturday and obtained by The Hill, President Jeff Zucker said the move was being made “out of an abundance of caution,” and is tied to a new wave of coronavirus infections sweeping the nation. 

The decision to scale back in-person work “will also protect those who will be in the office by minimizing the number of people who are there,” the network said. 

Employees who need to be in the office to perform their job duties will need to wear masks at all times, the memo said, unless that employee is eating, drinking or in a room by themselves. 

“We will also be making some changes to studios and control rooms we are using to help minimize the number of people in our spaces,” Zucker said. “Show teams will hear more about this from their managers. Our newsgathering teams will be re-evaluating assignments and adjusting travel accordingly.”

The policy will remain in effect “until further notice,” Zucker said.

CNN launched its plan to return to the office last March after initially halting in-person work for employees who did not need to be in their offices when the pandemic began. 

In August, the network fired three employees who came to the office without receiving a coronavirus vaccination despite a requirement for employees who come to work in person.