As companies address the coronavirus outbreak, compliance officers would be wise to consider how the coronavirus raises anti-corruption risks. Though the immediate concerns of the coronavirus relate to employee health and safety, the outbreak—and its business disruption—may increase the risk of bribery and corruption.

Due to the coronavirus, companies are experiencing greater business pressure. Many companies have salespeople who cannot travel due to precautions taken, canceled flights, or worse, quarantines. They cannot visit customers or partners, leading to slower sales. Global supply chains are disrupted, with shortages of parts and products. Company events and conferences are being canceled, resulting in fewer opportunities to build relationships with customers and market products. Customer demand for company products may be falling and companies may be declining to make revenue projections during this time of uncertainty about the spread and effects of the coronavirus.