6th COVID-19 Death Occurs at US Amazon Logistics Center

A worker at the Amazon logistics center in Romulus, Michigan, USA, is protesting to demand safety measures against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The number of deaths due to COVID-19 at Amazon logistics centers, the world's largest online retailer, has risen to at least six.

According to US CNBC and other media on the 14th (local time), Amazon recently confirmed that an employee at the Amazon logistics center located in Bethpage, New York, died from COVID-19 on the 9th of last month. So far, a total of six Amazon logistics center employees in the United States have died from COVID-19. Previously, deaths were reported in Indiana, Illinois, and New York.

However, Amazon has not disclosed the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths at its related facilities to date. This has led to criticism of Amazon, especially as online shopping demand surges due to the recent spread of COVID-19.

On the 12th, attorneys general from Michigan and several other states demanded that Amazon disclose data related to confirmed cases and deaths. According to local media, Democratic federal representatives Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell also urged federal authorities to investigate the working conditions and safety status of Amazon logistics center employees.

They stated, "It is difficult to comply with 'social distancing' guidelines at Amazon logistics centers, and complaints about the lack of personal protective equipment and hand sanitizers persist," adding, "Reports of unsafe working conditions at Amazon facilities and COVID-19 deaths among Amazon employees are emerging across the United States." Representative Tlaib also criticized Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos via social media, saying, "Employee safety must be the top priority. They deserve better treatment than this."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.