Coronavirus hits 50 Amazon warehouses
Tech giant has come under fire for not doing enough to protect workers
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The number of Amazon warehouses impacted by the novel coronavirus in the U.S. is increasing by the day as workers rush to package and deliver products as quickly as possible.
Between March 19 and April 10, employees at more than of the company's 519 U.S. warehouse and distribution facilities have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Amazon and local media reports.
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In some cases, Amazon shut down facilities for cleaning, and some co-workers who were in close contact with their infected colleagues have been quarantined. Amazon has advised workers who do not feel well to self-quarantine for two weeks with 14 days of paid leave.
Additionally, the company announced on April 9 that it is working with scentists and engineers to build its testing capacity.
Meanwhile, workers across the country have staged walkouts in protest of the company's handling of COVID-19 safety measures. A group of senators and state lawmakers are investigating the company over employee concerns.
Here's a list of the impacted facilities so far:
1. Queens, NY
A warehouse in Queens called DBK1 was the first U.S. Amazon warehouse to have an employee test positive for COVID-19, the company confirmed on March 19.
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New York has seen the highest number of cases in the country, with some calling New York City the "Wuhan" of the U.S.
"We are supporting the individual who is now in quarantine," Amazon said in a statement at the time. "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."
The center was temporarily shut down.
2. Wallingford, Conn.
An Amazon worker at a Wallingford warehouse tested positive for COVID-19, WTNH confirmed on March 20.
"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," a company spokesperson said in a statement.
"We're following all guidelines ... and have implemented proactive measures to protect employees including enhanced cleaning at the facility and maintaining social distance," the spokesperson added.
The center remains open.
3. Oklahoma City, Okla.
The tech giant confirmed on March 25 that an employee at an Oklahoma City fulfillment center known as OKC1 had contracted the virus.
He was last on site on March 18, according to local news outlet The Oklahoman.
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"It's here, it's real and we need to take it seriously," OKC1 employee Steven Newton, who tested positive for COVID-19, told KFOR.
He added that he thinks he caught the virus at the warehouse because, as he said, "I don't really have much of a social life. I go to work, come home, go to work, come home, that's it."
The center remains open.
4. Staten Island, NY
An employee at a facility in Staten Island tested positive soon after the Queens warehouse was hit by the virus, Amazon confirmed.
The employee was last at work on March 11, according to The Atlantic.
"We are supporting the individual who is now in quarantine," company spokesperson Rena Lunak told the magazine. "In addition to our enhanced daily deep cleaning, we've temporarily closed the Queens delivery station for additional sanitation and have sent associates home with full pay."
The center remains open.
5. Jacksonville, Fla.
Two employees at a Jacksonville fulfillment center have tested positive for the virus, the company confirmed.
One employee tested positive in March and another tested positive in April, the company confirmed to The Florida Times-Union on April 3.
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Another worker who started at the facility on March 18, Kasaharra Johnson, said she was not informed about the COVID-19-positive employee, according to the Times-Union.
"The employees asked: 'Hey, we’ve been hearing someone tested positive,'" Johnson said, "and they were told, 'That's not true. That's just a rumor,' instead of saying, 'it's a possibility.'"
Amazon said in a statement that it is conducting "contact tracing" at the facility and "will alert any associate who had close contact with this person at our building and will ask them to not return to the site and to self-quarantine for 14-days; we will pay them for their time at home."
The center remains open.
6. Moreno Valley, Calif.
Amazon confirmed on March 25 that an employee at its facility in Moreno Valley had contracted the virus.
The worker was last on site on March 18, according to local news outlet The Press-Enterprise.
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Amazon shared the same statement that it gave in response to news of the Staten Island employee.
The facility employs about 2,000 workers, and the center remains open, the Press-Enterprise reported.
"The worker is undergoing treatment, and several co-workers have been directed to self-quarantine and are under observation by health officials," Moreno Valley Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez said in a statement.
7. Shepherdsville, Ky.
At least 11 employees at an apparel returns facility in Shepherdsville tested positive for COVID-19 between March and April, according to local news outlet WDRB, citing the Kentucky Department of Public Health.
Some infected employees were seen at the facility as recently as Aprl 5, the outlet said.
Gov. Andy Beshear said Amazon is working with local health departments to try to contain the spread of the virus in the state's facilities.
The facility was temporarily shut down "for additional sanitization" in March before it reopened on April 1, Kentucky news outlet the Courier-Journal reported in March.
"We are supporting the individuals who are now in quarantine and recovering," a spokesperson said. "We are following all guidelines from local officials and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site."
8. Joliet, Ill.
Amazon confirmed that a fulfillment center employee in Joliet who was last on site on March 18 had tested positive for COVID-19, according to local news outlet The Joliet Herald-News.
The tech giant shared the same statement that it gave in response to news of the Staten Island employee.
The center remains open.
9. Brownstown, Mich.
An employee at a warehouse in Browntown has tested positive for the virus, Amazon confirmed.
The worker was last at the facility on March 18, and five employees who were in contact with the COVID-19-positive worker have been told to stay home for two weeks, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Amazon shared the same statement that it gave in response to news of the Staten Island employee.
10. Katy, Texas
A delivery station manager in Katy tested positive for the virus and is receiving medical care, the company said on March 27.
Amazon shared the same statement that it gave in response to news of the Staten Island employee and told all workers who were in contact with the manager to stay home for two weeks, ABC 13 Houston reported.
11. Shelby Charter Township, Michigan
Amazon confirmed on March 25 that a worker at its facility in Shelby Charter Township, near Detroit, tested positive for the virus.
The worker was last seen on site on March 18, according to The Detroit News.
The tech giant shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
12. Edison, NJ
Amazon confirmed on March 25 that an employee at a 923,000 square-foot Edison facility contracted the virus.
Amazon shared the same statement that it gave in response to news of the Queens employee.
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The tech giant has come under fire for not taking the necessary safety precautions to protect its workers. More than 1,500 workers from around the world have signed a petition that calls on the company to take additional steps to ensure safety in the workplace.
13. Romulus, Michigan
Three employees at a fulfillment center in Romulus, near Detroit, have tested positive for the virus as of April 1, Amazon confirmed, according to Business Insider.
The first COVID-19-positive employee was last seen at work on March 14, and the third was last on site on March 28, according to The Detroit News and BI.
Michigan workers walked out in protest of the company's handling of the virus on April 2.
"We are scared to go to work and disgusted at Amazon's disregard for our safety and our health and the health of our neighbors," walkout leader Tonya Ramsay told BI. "We aren't heroes and we aren't Red Cross workers — we are working people who pack and deliver goods. We're working through a crisis, not by choice, but by necessity."
14. Ella, Texas
Amazon confirmed that an employee at its Ella has tested positive for COVID-19.
The tech giant said it has told all workers who were in contact with the employee who contracted the virus to quarantine for two weeks, according to ABC 13 Houston.
The facility remains open.
15. Kenosha, Wis.
An employee at a facility in Kenosha has contracted the virus, Amazon confirmed on March 27.
The company shared the same statement it gave in response to the Queens case.
The Kenosha facility is one of the town's biggest employers with about 3,000 workers, according to local news outlet Kenosha News.
The facility remains open.
16. Kent, Wash.
An employee at a Kent fulfillment center tested positive for COVID-19, Amazon confirmed March 28.
A number of employees who work at the facility has about 2,000 employees who have spoken up about the tech giant's inadequate mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, according to the Seattle Times.
Other employees said they weren't informed about the infected employee from Amazon but found out from other workers or on social media instead, the Times reported.
The company shared the same statement it gave in response to the Queens case.
The facility remains open.
17. Eastville, Calif.
Amazon on March 29 confirmed that two employees at its Eastville facility have tested positive for COVID-19, local news outlet The Press-Enterprise reported.
The announcement came nearly a week after an employee tested positive at a nearby Moreno Valley facility.
The company shared the same statement it gave in response to the Queens case. The facility remains open.
18. Indianapolis, Ind.
Amazon confirmed on March 31 that an employee at its Indianapolis has tested positive for the virus, according to the Indianapolis Star.
The company shared the same statement it gave in response to the Queens case. The facility remains open.
19. Caledonia, Mich.
Amazon told Reuters on March 31 that an employee at a Caledonia facility has tested positive for the COVID-19.
20. Salem, Ore.
An employee at a Salem warehouse has tested positive for the virus, the tech giant confirmed to local news outlet KATU on March 31.
The tech giant shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
The facility remains open.
21. Memphis, Tenn.
An employee at a Memphis delivery station has tested positive for the virus, local news outlet WGRE confirmed on March 26.
The employee last worked at the station on March 21, according to the outlet.
22. Robbinsville, N.J.
Two employees tested positive for COVID-19 at a Robbinsville warehouse between March 23 and March 28, an anonymous worker told local news outlet The Trentonian.
Amazon conducted "multiple enhanced cleanings" of the facility, which remains open, the outlet reported.
23. San Bernardino, Calif.
An employee at a San Bernardino facility tested positive for the virus in late March, according to The Los Angeles Times.
24. Sparrows Point, Md.
An employee at a warehouse in Sparrows Point, near Baltimore, has tested positive for the virus, Amazon said.
About 4,000 people work at the facility, an anonymous worker told CBS Baltimore.
“It’s scary because nobody wants to bring this home to their family,” she said, according to CBS, adding later, “There’s totes that travel through that entire building that go to every single part of that building and who’s to say the person who has the coronavirus touched that and it came right back up to us."
Amazon said in a statement that it is asking anyone who came in contact with the infected employee to quarantine for two weeks.
25. Palmer Township, Penn.
Two employees at a fulfillment center in Palmer Township have tested positive for COVID-19, Amazon confirmed.
“We’re continuing to monitor the situation in our facilities and corporate offices, and we are taking proactive measures to protect employees and associates who have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed or becomes ill," the company said in a statement, according to local news outlet Lehigh Valley Live.
Amazon employs about 3,400 people in Lehigh Valley, the outlet reported citing the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.
The facility remains open.
26. Los Angeles
An Amazon employee at a warehouse in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, has tested positive for COVID-19, the City News Service confirmed.
It is not clear when the worker contracted the virus, the News Service reported.
The company shared the same statement it gave in response to the Queens case. The facility remains open.
27. West Columbia, South Carolina
Amazon confirmed that a worker at a West Columbia, South Carolina, fulfillment center has tested positive for the illness.
The tech giant shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case. The facility remains open.
South Carolina has more than 4,000 Amazon employees, local news outlet The State reported.
28. Ruskin, Fla.
Amazon confirmed on March 29 that an employee at its Ruskin facility has tested positive for COVID-19, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
The facility is 1.1 million square feet and employs about 2,000 people, the Times reported.
29. Macon, Ga.
An employee at a 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Macon has tested positive for the virus, local news outlet The Telegraph reported March 29.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
30. Rialto, Calif.
An employee at a Rialto cross-dock warehouse has tested positive for the virus, The LA Times reported April 2.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
31. Hawthorne, Calif.
An employee at a Hawthorne delivery center has contracted COVID-19, The LA Times reported April 2.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
32. Glassell Park, LA, Calif.
An employee at a smaller Amazon Prime Now warehouse in the Glassell Park neighborhood of LA has tested positive for the virus, The LA Times reported April 2.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
33. North Haven, Conn.
At least four people have tested positive for COVID-19 at a North Haven facility, The Hartford Courant reported on Aprli 10.
Amazon notified workers are the facility that the infected employees were last on site on March 9, March 17 and March 22, according to the Courant.
"These individuals did the right thing. When they thought they were sick, they stayed home," a voicemail to workers obtained by the Courant said.
A company spokesperson told the outlet that Amazon employees are "heros fighting for their communities and helping people get critical items they need in this crisis."
She added that Amazon has "nearly 500,000 people in the U.S. alone supporting customers and we are taking measures to support each one."
34. Middletown, Del.
At least two workers at a Middletown facility have tested positive for the virus, Business Insider reported April 8.
Amazon reportedly informed workers of a positive case on April 7, saying the worker was last at the Middletown site on March 22. The company confirmed another case on April 7, according to Business Insider.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
35. New Castle, Del.
A person connected to a warehouse in New Castle has contracted the virus, Amazon confirmed on April 3 to Delaware Online.
An Amazon spokesperson shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case. The spokesperson did not say whether the person is directly employed by Amazon or when the person was first diagnosed.
A delivery driver who quit his job with the company after finding out about the case, however, told the outlet that Amazon waited eight days until March 27 to inform workers about a case that was confirmed on March 19.
The driver added that by the time he was informed of the infected person, he had already gone in and out of the building where the infected person made contact four or five times.
"So I've been in this building for multiple days now, and y'all didn't tell us?" he said of Amazon to Delaware Online. "You've known about it. ... Amazon was not willingly sharing that information."
He added that he "cannot afford to be working with people who may have this stuff" because he lives with at-risk family members, according to the outlet.
36. Orlando, Fla.
Amazon confirmed on April 6 that an employee at its Orlando warehouse tested positive for COVID-19, according to local news station WFTV 9
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
The facility remains open.
37. Monee, Ill.
An employee at a facility in Monee has tested positive for the virus, CBS Chicago reported April 1.
The worker was last seen on site on March 17, according to the outlet.
The facility has been cleaned and remains open.
38. Ashland, Va.
Amazon confirmed April 1 that an employee at its Ashland facility tested positive for COVID-19, according to local news outlet ABC 8News.
The worker was last on site on March 22, and the facility has since been cleaned and remains open, ABC reported.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
39. Jeffersonville, Ind.
Amazon has confirmed a positive COVID-19 case at its Jeffersonville facility, Business Insider reported April 2.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
A voicemail obtained by Business Insider says the employee was last on site on March 26.
An employee who wanted to remain anonymous shared a photo of the facility with Business Insider that appears to show workers who are not practicing social distancing rules put in place by the company that require at least six feet between employees.
40. Lexington, Ky.
Several employees at a fulfillment center in Lexington have tested positive for the virus, the Louisville Courier Journal reported citing text messages to employees and a statement from Amazon.
The first case was reported April 7, when an automated phone call was sent to workers informing them that an employee at the facility who was last on site on March 20 had tested positive.
When the outlet first reached out to Amazon for comment, the company denied the case.
By April 9, two more cases were confirmed. A text message to employees said the infected workers were last at the site on March 31 and April 3, according to the Courier Journal.
Yet another case was reported on April 15. The employee was last at the facility on April 11, the Courier Journal reported.
"Nothing is more important than the safety of our teams," Amazon spokesperson Rachael Lighty told the outlet in a statement. "... Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are evaluating and making changes in real-time and encourage anyone to compare our overall pay, benefits, and speed in which we’re managing this crisis to other retailers and major employers across the country."
41. Charlotte, N.C.
At least six Charlotte Amazon workers at three different facilities have tested positive for COVID-19, Amazon confirmed to The Charlotte Observer on April 16.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
42. Euclid, Ohio
A worker at an Amazon delivery station in Euclid has tested positive for the virus, Business Insider reported April 7.
"We are supporting the individuals who are recovering," Amazon spokesman Timothy Carter told the outlet.
"We've implemented a broad suite of new benefits changes for employees in our operations and logistics network including an additional $2 per hour, double time for overtime, and paid time off benefits for regular part-time and seasonal employees," he added.
43. Northfield, Ohio
A worker at an Amazon warehouse in Northfield has tested positive for the virus, Business Insider reported April 7.
44. North Randall, Ohio
A worker at a North Randall fulfillment center has tested positive for the virus, local news outlet FOX 8 Cleveland reported April 7.
The 855,000-square-foot facility is open 24 hours a day and employs more than 2,000 full-time workers, according to the outlet.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
"There has not been a shut down at all. It’s like they don’t care about their employees," one anonymous employee told FOX 8.
Another worker who has been employed at the center since 2018 said he has not been to work in almost a month out of fear.
"This will be the second pay, and we get paid biweekly, and I will not receive a check this week again due to the COVID-19," he told FOX 8.
45. Hillsboro, Ore.
Amazon on April 4 confirmed that a worker at its Hillsboro fulfillment center tested positive for the virus, according to The Oregonian.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
The facility remains open.
46. Salt Lake City
Two employees at a Salt Lake City fulfillment center tested positive for the virus, local news outlet ABC 4 reported April 8.
An anonymous employee told that outlet that he has been concerned about the facility's handling of the virus and hasn't come into work for weeks since his supervisor told him the center was all out of hand sanitizer and wipes for workers.
"The last time I went into work, the station I went to was physically dirty. And I’m like, well — that’s when I found out they were out and that’s when I haven’t gone back since," the employee told ABC 4. "I have some family that is extremely high risk that I’m assisting in taking care of."
He added: "And, with two cases in a building that I would go into every day — it’s like, okay, it’s better safe than sorry and lose the money and take care of my family."
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Euclid case.
47. Springfield, Va.
Amazon confirmed on April 3 that a person connected to an Amazon facility in Springfield, near Washington, D.C., tested positive for COVID-19, Business Insider reported.
The person was inside the warehouse on March 31, a source told the outlet.
"I feared for my safety," the anonymous source told BI. "So many people [were] not being good about complying with physical distancing."
48. Fresno, Calif.
An employee at a Fresno warehouse has tested positive for the virus, local news outlet The Fresno Bee reported April 9, citing a text message sent to workers at the facility.
The employee was last seen at the warehouse on March 9.
"This employee’s last day was March 9, and we were just advised yesterday?" an employee told the Bee on the condition of anonymity. "I have a lot of anxiety about it, so seeing the text pissed me off big-time."
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
49. Etna, Ohio
Amazon confirmed on April 6 that an employee at its Etna facility contracted the virus, according to local news outlet ABC6.
The outlet said it has been flooded with calls from Amazon workers and people who know workers saying the company is not doing enough to ensure safety measures amid the pandemic.
Amazon called the accusations "unfounded" in a statement to ABC6.
"These accusations are simply unfounded. Nothing is more important than the safety of our teams. Since the early days of this situation, we have worked closely with health authorities to proactively respond, ensuring we continue to serve customers while taking care of our associates and teams," the company said.
"We have also implemented proactive measures at our facilities to protect employees including increased cleaning at all facilities, maintaining social distance in the FC, and adding distance between drivers and customers when making deliveries," the statement added.
50. Miami
Amazon confirmed on April 9 that two workers at its Miami facility have contracted the illness, The Miami Herald reported.
The person was last on site on March 28, according to the Herald.
"The potential impact of COVID-19 in this warehouse is huge," an anonymous worker told the Herald.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
51. Harold, Md.
An employee at a facility in Harold, Maryland, tested positive for COVID-19, Amazon confirmed on April 9.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case, according to local news outlet WJZ Baltimore.
52. Stoughton, Mass.
Amazon confirmed on April 13 that an employee at its Stoughton warehouse contracted the virus, according to local news outlet The Enterprise.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
53. Reno, Nev.
An Amazon employee who works at a facility just north of Reno, Nevada, has tested positive for the virus, The Reno Gazette reported April 15.
The tech giant plans to hire about 800 more employees at the 630,000-square-foot facility, according to the Gazette.
Amazon shared the same statement it gave in response to the Shepherdsville case.
54. Grapevine, Texas
An Amazon worker tested positive for COVID-19 at a Grapevine facility that company founder Jeff Bezos recetnly visited to thank employees, The Dallas Morning News reported April 10.
The worker tested positive on Monday, April 10 — a day after Amazon tweeted a video of Bezos visiting the warehouse just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
"Consistent with our daily processes, the site has undergone enhanced cleanings since the associate’s last day," a message sent to workers at the facility read, according to Bloomberg.
Amid surging consumer demand, Amazon has decided to open "100,000 new full and part-time positions across the U.S. in [its] fulfillment centers and delivery network" and is temporarily prioritizing some shipments over others.
"People are depending on us. ... Much of the essential work we do cannot be done from home," Bezos said in a memo to employees. "... We’ve placed purchase orders for millions of face masks we want to give to our employees and contractors who cannot work from home, but very few of those orders have been filled. Masks remain in short supply globally and are at this point being directed by governments to the highest-need facilities like hospitals and clinics."
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This article will be updated to include more facilities as they are reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This article has been updated to include an Amazon statement for Shepherdsville, Ky., saying the facility will reopen on April 1.