An Amazon shipping facility in Queens, New York, has temporarily shut down after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Queens case is the company’s first in the states for a warehouse employee.
“We are supporting the individual who is now in quarantine,” an Amazon rep said in a statement. “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.”
The new results come just days after the company announced at least five employees in facilities in Spain and Italy tested positive for the virus, in addition to two other Seattle office employees.
Though initial reports claimed that night-shift workers were not told to stay home after learning of their co-workers’ diagnosis, the company said that was not the case, adding that the location shuttered Thursday for “additional sanitation” and have “sent associates home with full pay.”
