Bayer employee fired after refusing to obey 14-day quarantine order

Bayer, a German chemical and pharmaceutical company, dismissed an employee on Tuesday who refused to undergo a 14-day quarantine at home after returning from abroad to Beijing, the company said on its official Weibo account on Tuesday.

A video of the woman, who declined to abide by quarantine rules during the novel coronavirus outbreak, triggered the anger of netizens.

The woman, an Australian Chinese, returned to Beijing recently. Instead of staying at home for the two-week observation as required, she ran outside without wearing a mask.

When a community staff member tried to persuade her, she did not listen and even shouted "help". The police issued a warning that she must stay at the home for 14 days.

Bayer's China branch said on Tuesday that the woman in the video worked at the company and she would be sacked due to her behavior.

The company always abides by the laws and regulations of the countries where it operates, and firmly supports the anti-epidemic action of the Chinese government and people, it added.