Coronavirus cases grow at Amazon warehouse in Miami area, workers say
An Opa-locka Amazon warehouse has reportedly become a hot spot for novel coronavirus after three more workers tested positive, bringing the total there to eight, several employees told the Miami Herald this week. That brings the total to at least 10 positive cases of Amazon warehouse workers at Miami-Dade sites.
In less than two weeks, Amazon workers at the Opa-locka warehouse, 14000 NW 37th Ave., have been told through text message that eight employees had tested positive for COVID-19.
The first case was reported on April 3, and a text message to employees identified how many workers had tested positive.
“We have one additional confirmed case of COVID-19 at MIA1 [the Opa-locka warehouse],” one message read.
On April 11, five workers tested positive, the Miami Herald reported. A few hours later, the warehouse sent another message to workers confirming additional cases, but that text did not specify how many employees tested positive.
On Monday, workers again received a message about additional confirmed cases, but it did not specify how many.
Amazon declined to tell the Miami Herald how many cases were reported at the Opa-locka facility, but did say the company informs its employees when there are new cases.
In an email sent to a worker at the facility, Amazon confirmed eight positive cases in the warehouse.
Another worker at the warehouse said, “We are very afraid to get infected..Amazon stays open at the cost of [their] worker’s health and our families.”
Amazon warehouse workers near Miami International Airport, 3200 NW 67th Ave., also received messages saying two workers had tested positive. A worker at that facility said many contractors and residents pass through, making the potential spread worrying.
At the time, Amazon had sent a similar statement to the Miami Herald, saying employees were notified of positive cases. But on Wednesday, Amazon said there were no confirmed cases at the facility.
Amazon workers who are diagnosed with COVID-19 receive up to two weeks of pay and unlimited unpaid time off through the end of April.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 7:54 AM.
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