Amazon Warned Warehouse Staff Not To Touch Packages For 24Hrs

Recently, a manager at an Amazon warehouse issued a warning to his team about how they shouldn’t touch packages coming from other Amazon facilities that have staff infected with COVID-19 for 24 hours.

In an email, the manager wrote that as a precaution, all shipments from AVP1 would have to be left for 24 hours before they could be opened/received. The AVP1 warehouse which is in Hazle Township is among those Amazon facilities where the staff has been tested positive with COVID-19. AVP1 appears to be Amazon’s most severe location with 21 confirmed cases.

With so many workers afraid to go to work, it is a real struggle for the company to keep the facility open and process orders. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an investigation has been carried out to look into the working conditions of Amazon employees at AVP1.

AVP1, being one of 10 warehouses in the US fulfillment network of the e-commerce giant, is an important cog to make sure the smooth function of the delivery process of the company. If Amazon facilities are closed for a long period of time, it could hurt the finely tuned network, thus delaying orders’ delivery to customers, who during the pandemic, would want to shop online instead of going to stores.

Besides those 21 confirmed cases at AVP1, there are two more that have been revealed in meetings. Many of the company’s employees, in fear of the virus, have decided to take unpaid time off.

Commenting about the warning, Amazon said that it was a mistake. Amazon spokeswomen, Kristen Kish, wrote in an emailed statement that based on guidance from the WHO, the CDC, and the Surgeon General, currently, there wasn’t any evidence suggesting that COVId-19 could spread through packages.

Kish also didn’t agree to provide the correct number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at AVP1. Amazon states that it has improved all facilities’ cleaning measures, following the federal guidance by carrying out temperature screenings and providing masks for employees. People who continue to work will receive temporary raises as well as more lucrative over time. Those who test positive with COVID-19 or are under quarantine will receive two weeks of sick pay.

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