Chinese Oil Trader Says London Worker Could Have Coronavirus

(Bloomberg) -- Chinese oil-trading giant Unipec said an employee in London is suspected of having coronavirus.

Unipec U.K. Co., which buys and sells crude for China's biggest oil refiner, confirmed in a statement that it told workers to stay home while the person is tested for the illness.

Unipec, which has dozens of staff working in Shepherd's Bush in the west of London, is monitoring the situation closely and following guidance of local and international health authorities. Last week, Chevron Corp. sent workers at its Canary Wharf office home after an employee fell ill. Tests on that person subsequently proved negative.

“All appropriate steps are being and will continue to be taken to prevent infection,” Unipec said.

The development comes a week after IP Week, Europe's biggest oil industry gathering. Some traders at Unipec attended at least one party that took place during IP Week.

Unipec U.K. had 73 employees in 2018, 11 of whom were traders, according to a Companies House filing. It's ultimate parent is China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, or Sinopec.

--With assistance from Bill Lehane and Javier Blas.

To contact the reporter on this story: Laura Hurst in London at lhurst3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alaric Nightingale at anightingal1@bloomberg.net, John Deane

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