(Reuters) – Goldman Sachs Group Inc is encouraging its eligible U.S. staff to work from home until Jan. 18, a company spokesperson said, as the Omicron coronavirus variant spreads across the country.

Goldman’s offices will continue to remain open with previously announced COVID-19 safety protocols, the spokesperson added.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Dilts Marshall in New York and Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Daniel Wallis)