JPMorgan Chase is planning to bring thousands of its employees who are working from home for over five weeks back onsite in phases, Reuters reported.

JPMorgan sent nearly 180,000 of its total staff back home and shuttered 25% of its bank branches, to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

JPMorgan is now the first US bank that may implement the return-to-work strategy in the country.

The bank said that it does not have a firm timeline for when it will return employees to offices. However, it will follow guidance issued by the government and health authorities while doing so.

In a memo, JPMorgan operating committee said: “Two considerations are paramount as we plan for this across the firm: We want to do it at the right time — which may differ by region, country and state — and in a manner that prioritizes your health and safety.”

The memo, seen by Reuters, did not specifically address virus testing. Health experts have criticised the government’s move to reopen the economy without virus testing.

However, it has been reported that some US states like the New York City (NYC), which houses the bank’s headquarters, will stay under lockdown until 15 May 2020.

Earlier this month, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said that companies could get employees back to work faster if the government provided them with tests, including antibody tests.

The US lender, which asked its employees globally to work from home last month, currently operates in 60 countries and had 256,981 employees as of 2019.