(Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Following "several" coronavirus outbreaks at its fulfillment centers, Amazon plans to implement COVID-19 tests for warehouse workers every two weeks, CNBC reports.
A clinical professional will supervise employees as they test themselves with nasal swabs.
CEO Jeff Bezos in April announced that Amazon expects to spend $4 billion, "and perhaps a bit more," to protect workers as they continue making deliveries.
The money is earmarked for personal protective equipment, cleaning company facilities, and raising wages.
Another $300 million will go toward funding an in-house COVID-19 testing process to screen all employees for the virus.
A testing pilot program has already been rolled out at a "handful" of fulfillment centers, according to CNBC.
"To date, we've made over 150 significant process changes at sites around the world to ensure the health and safety of our teams," an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Daxdi.
"Our operations sites and grocery stores are distributing masks to employees, using disinfectant spray, and conducting employee temperature checks.
"A next step might be regular testing of our employees, and we've started our first small-scale pilot," it continued.
"We don't know exactly yet how it's going to shape up, but we continue to believe it's worth trying." The firm is also eyeing standalone diagnostic labs for analyzing samples.
Other testing options include pulse oximetry screenings (measuring oxygen levels in the blood) and more regular temperature checks.
The company has been grappling with the coronavirus for months.
In late March, employees at a Staten Island facility planned a strike to pressure Amazon into closing the warehouse and offering paid time off.
A month later, the company allegedly fired two workers for calling out the lack of medical protections at its depots, which led to the resignation of a VP in protest.
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Editor's note: This article was updated on June 11 with comment from Amazon.
(Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Following "several" coronavirus outbreaks at its fulfillment centers, Amazon plans to implement COVID-19 tests for warehouse workers every two weeks, CNBC reports.
A clinical professional will supervise employees as they test themselves with nasal swabs.
CEO Jeff Bezos in April announced that Amazon expects to spend $4 billion, "and perhaps a bit more," to protect workers as they continue making deliveries.
The money is earmarked for personal protective equipment, cleaning company facilities, and raising wages.
Another $300 million will go toward funding an in-house COVID-19 testing process to screen all employees for the virus.
A testing pilot program has already been rolled out at a "handful" of fulfillment centers, according to CNBC.
"To date, we've made over 150 significant process changes at sites around the world to ensure the health and safety of our teams," an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Daxdi.
"Our operations sites and grocery stores are distributing masks to employees, using disinfectant spray, and conducting employee temperature checks.
"A next step might be regular testing of our employees, and we've started our first small-scale pilot," it continued.
"We don't know exactly yet how it's going to shape up, but we continue to believe it's worth trying." The firm is also eyeing standalone diagnostic labs for analyzing samples.
Other testing options include pulse oximetry screenings (measuring oxygen levels in the blood) and more regular temperature checks.
The company has been grappling with the coronavirus for months.
In late March, employees at a Staten Island facility planned a strike to pressure Amazon into closing the warehouse and offering paid time off.
A month later, the company allegedly fired two workers for calling out the lack of medical protections at its depots, which led to the resignation of a VP in protest.
Recommended by Our Editors
Editor's note: This article was updated on June 11 with comment from Amazon.
