Amazon workers in at least eight warehouses across the United States have tested positive for the CCP virus, according to news reports and the Seattle-based retailer.
Warehouse workers at two separate locations in New York City—Staten Island and Queens—tested positive. Similar cases were confirmed at Amazon warehouses in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Brownstown, Michigan; Jacksonville, Florida; Shepherdsville, Kentucky; and Wallingford, Connecticut.
“They don’t have people’s best interests in mind. It’s irresponsible and inhumane to have us keep working there,” Smalls said. “We’re going to be a second wave [of the outbreak]. I understand we’re essential to our communities, but we’re not helping out the community if we’re carrying the virus.”
“We are supporting the individual who is now in quarantine,” an Amazon spokesperson confirmed. “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.”
In some of the cases, Amazon temporarily closed down facilities to be sanitized.
Amazon said it will hire 100,000 new workers for warehouses and delivery services to meet surging demand as millions of Americans adhere to stay-at-home orders and attempt to stock up on key household products such as toilet paper, soap, and hand sanitizer.
And a New York-based group of Amazon workers said that when a CCP virus case is confirmed at any facility, the site be closed down.
“The facility must be shut down and workers given paid leave at their normal pay rate while the facility is thoroughly sterilized and workers are tested for the virus,” Amazonians United NYC said.