Amazon warehouse worker in New York tests positive for COVID-19

Virginia has 10 fulfillment and sorting centers, in addition to the HQ2 East Coast headquarters under development.

Published March 19, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Only two days after Amazon.com Inc. announced it would add 100,000 warehouse and delivery jobs — 1,400 of which are earmarked for Virginia — to combat coronavirus-related unemployment, a warehouse worker in its Queens, New York City, facility has tested positive for the virus.

Amazon has a total of 10 fulfillment and sortation facilities in Ashland, Chester, Frederick County, Dinwiddie County, Richmond, Springfield and Sterling, and on March 10 announced plans to build two additional facilities in Hampton Roads, creating an expected 1,500 jobs.

Workers at the facility were notified by text that someone at their place of work had tested positive for the illness Wednesday.

“All Amazon employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine will receive up to two-weeks of pay,” Amazon spokesperson Courtney Norman says. “This is in addition to unlimited unpaid time off for all hourly employees through the end of March.”

it is the first COVID-19 case Amazon has reported in its warehouse facilities.