EDISON – An individual who works at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Edison has tested positive for COVID-19, according to information provided by Amazon.
“We are supporting the individual who is recovering,” the company said in a statement. “We are following guidelines from local officials and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site.”
The associate, who was last at the center on March 19, is receiving medical care and is in quarantine, Amazon said.
Employees at the site have been notified of the positive case and anyone who was in close contact with the associate has been asked to stay home for 14 days in self-quarantine.
All Amazon employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or who are placed into quarantine will receive up to two weeks of pay. The additional pay while away from work is to ensure employees have the time they need to return to good health without the worry of lost income, according to Amazon, which is in addition to unlimited unpaid time off for all hourly employees through the end of March.
Amazon, which is considered an essential business during New Jersey’s stay at home directive, is consulting with health authorities and medical experts on how to handle building closures for deep cleaning if an employee tests positive for COVID-19.
The current process evaluates where the employee was in the building, for how long, how much time has passed since the individual was onsite and who they interacted with, among other items, in determining how to appropriately handle the situation, according to Amazon.
Since the novel coronavirus outbreak, Amazon has implemented a series of preventative health measures for employees, delivery and transportation partners at company sites around the world.
The measures include increasing the frequency and intensity of cleaning at all sites, regular sanitization of all door handles, stairway handrails, elevator buttons, lockers and touch screens, according to Amazon.
Amazon has also adjusted a number of practices to ensure social distancing within its buildings, including no stand-up meetings during shifts; all business essential information will be shared via boards near main areas; chairs and tables are spread out in break rooms; staggered shift start times and break times; suspended exit screening; enabled temporary cell phone process for those who need to be in contact with their families or childcare providers; and training will take place in small formats with in-app training tools and other equipment.