Amazon Revives Masks Requirement for Warehouse Staff Amid Omicron Risk

All Amazon US warehouse staff will once more be required to put on face masks because of the extremely transferable Omicron variant within the face of a rise in Covid-19 instances at work.

Beginning right now, staff at Amazon operations shall be required to put on face covers – even when they’re absolutely vaccinated or reside in an space that doesn’t require masks – in accordance with a discover despatched to workers Tuesday and considered by CNBC.

“Your well being and security are our high precedence,” says the press launch. “In response to the fast proliferation of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 within the US and steering from well being officers and our personal medical specialists, face coverings are as soon as once more required for everybody.”

An Amazon spokesman confirmed the message to workers who prescribe masks in warehouses.

Amazon is reinstating the masks mandate as a result of staff are in the course of the “excessive season” when warehouses are full and workers are working extra time choosing, packing and transport Christmas orders.

Giant corporations, together with Amazon, have needed to consistently readjust their Covid safety protocols within the wake of the continuing pandemic. Amazon lifted its masks requirement for absolutely vaccinated warehouse staff in November after the masks requirement in warehouses was lifted and reintroduced a number of occasions prior to now yr.

The way in which corporations strategy the virus has modified once more because the extremely contagious Omicron variant spreads and coronavirus instances enhance. Omicron is now thought-about to be the dominant Covid tribe within the nation, accounting for 73% of the instances sequenced.

Amazon, the second largest employer within the US after Walmart, has not prescribed vaccines to its workers. As a substitute, it bought workers to get the possibility by providing bonuses and working a “Max Your Vax” sweepstakes that give out automobiles, money rewards, and trip packages to a handful of workers.

CLOCK: The Biden authorities will increase testing efforts because the Omicron variant spreads