Amazon Closes US Warehouse, Confirms First Coronavirus Infection
Amazon has closed a warehouse in Queens, New York after a worker tested positive for coronavirus, making it the company’s first known infection in the US.
Ahead of the discovery, the company’s already been struggling to meet a surge of online orders amid the pandemic. Recently, they even announced they’d look to hire 100,000 employees to keep up with demands.
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Regarding the recent shutdown, a company rep stated, “We are supporting the individual who is now in quarantine. Since the early days of this situation, we have worked closely with local authorities to proactively respond, ensuring we continue to serve customers while taking care of our associates and we’re following all guidelines from local officials about the operations of our buildings.”
Furthermore, as the warehouse has now closed, allowing for “additional sanitation,” the company states that they’ve “sent associates home with full pay.”
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Earlier this week, Amazon’s SVP of Worldwide Operations Dave Clark spoke on the novel virus and how the company is dealing.
He stated, “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Amazon and our network of partners are helping communities around the world in a way that very few can—delivering critical supplies directly to the doorsteps of people who need them. Getting a priority item to your doorstep is vital as communities practice social-distancing, particularly for the elderly and others with underlying health issues. We are seeing a significant increase in demand, which means our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year.”