SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. — Amazon confirms they have temporarily shut down its Shepherdsville warehouse, with new safety protocols in place, after employees tested positive for COVID-19.
The company hasn’t confirmed with us the number of people affected. But one employee, who didn’t want to be identified, revealed it’s three of his colleagues.
“It’s actually a heartbreak,” said Wendy Dant Chesser, president of One Southern Indiana, a nonprofit promoting economic development in the area.
“We know that Amazon is providing a lot of great services right now, they are deemed an essential business," she said. "And the fact that they had this virus affect their staff is terrible.”
A spokesperson with the company said the employees who tested positive for coronavirus are in quarantine and recovering.
In a statement, Amazon said, in part: “We are following all guidelines from local officials and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site.”
The company also said they've taken measures to achieve social distancing, with staggered shifts to spread people out, for example.
Amazon fulfillment center employees we interviewed said they’re seeing more rigorous and frequent cleaning efforts firsthand on things like door handles and scanners. Despite the dangers of COVID-19, many said they’ll continue working as long as they can -- for a paycheck, and for all those who rely on Amazon products.
WHAS11's Focus investigative reporter Paula Vasan asked an Amazon spokesperson how this temporary shutdown might impact deliveries. She didn't receive a response.
“It further emphasizes we really all need to follow the CDC social distancing recommendations,” Chesser said.
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