Delta Variant Spreads, Amazon Requires Warehouse Employees To Wear Masks Again

Amazon employees have to wear masks again as the delta variant COVID-18 continues to spread. (photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA - Amazon notified warehouse employees in the US on Friday, August 6 that they must once again wear masks to work in response to the spread of the more contagious COVID-19 Delta variant.

The company said it offers access to the vaccine to its more than half a million employees, but will require employees to wear masks, regardless of their vaccination status. Here's Amazon's statement:

In response to the alarming spread of the new COVID-19 variant in the US and guidance from public health authorities and our own medical experts, we are requiring indoor face coverings regardless of vaccination status.

We are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to follow local government guidelines and work closely with leading medical healthcare professionals, gathering their advice and recommendations as we progress to ensure our buildings are optimized for the safety of our team.

Current non-warehousing employees don't have to deal with Amazon's policy changes. The company recently adjusted plans for a return to the office on August 5, pushing back the date back to January 2022.

Like other companies, Amazon previously considered implementing a hybrid work schedule, with plans to bring office workers back to the office for at least part of the week starting on September 7.

Taking extra precautions for warehouse employees seems like a good idea if you plan to continue to have staff working directly. Amazon reported in October 2020 that 19,816 workers out of 1,372,000 frontline employees at Whole Foods and Amazon contracted COVID-19 "or if deemed positive" from March 1 to September 19, 2020.