Tata Steel on Monday issued an advisory to its officials to work from home to avoid unnecessary gathering in the wake of the novel coronavirus threat.

Those into daily production can avail special leaves as directed in the advisory issued by Tata Steel vice-president of human resources Suresh Dutt Tripathi on Monday. All business and unit heads have been asked to avoid public transport and those who can work from home can do it if they wish to.

All employees with recent overseas visits, especially to countries like China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany in the last 14 days, have been advised to go on leave for 14 days from the date of their arrival with an intimation to their respective head of department and general manager (medical services), Tata Steel.

Such employees are allowed to avail the work-from-home option according to the company guidelines. The company has also issued a travel advisory on suspension of all international and domestic business travel of employees.

Suspension of overseas and domestic travel — either by air, train or road — has been enforced till further notice. Visitors have been barred entry to Tata Steel offices and plant.

A helpline number 0657-6641122 have been floated for the employees in need of information.