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Coronavirus News: Amazon warehouse employee on Staten Island dies of COVID-19

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Amazon warehouse employee in NYC dies of COVID-19

Officials announced that an Amazon warehouse employee on Staten Island has died from COVID-19.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Officials announced that an Amazon warehouse employee on Staten Island has died from COVID-19.

The employee was last onsite on April 5 and was confirmed to have the virus on April 11 as he remained in quarantine.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of an associate at our site in Staten Island, NY. His family and loved ones are in our thoughts, and we are supporting his fellow colleagues," Amazon spokesperson Lisa Levandowski said.

The employee was not contact traced to any other employees, and officials say they believe each of the cases at the Staten Island fulfillment center are individual cases and are not believed to be related to one another.

Amazon officials said they are taking proactive measures to protect and support the health and safety of their employees.

The company said it is offering support and counseling to team members.

RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum released the following statement:

"Yesterday's death of a worker at Amazon's Staten Island facility is especially tragic. Nobody should have to put their life at risk when they go to work. They need to know that their employer is providing them a safe work environment - but Amazon has failed to do that.

"For a long time now, workers at JFK8 and other Amazon facilities around the world have been demanding safer working conditions - especially during this pandemic. Yesterday's death unfortunately has shown the true cost of Amazon's failure to provide a safe work environment.

"Amazon must immediately close the Staten Island, New York facility and disinfect it. What the company claims it is doing is obviously not working. In order to protect its employees, there must be independent monitoring in all Amazon facilities, and not just empty promises. We cannot afford any further loss of life at Amazon facilities anywhere."