In a memo sent to employees on Friday, Amazon said it would shorten their quarantine if U.S. employees tested positive for COVID-19. The Wall Street Journal reported the news earlier, and an Amazon representative confirmed the news to CNET.
The e-commerce giant said in an employee memo that employees can now return to work after 7 days of quarantine. That's less than the previous 10 days, and as long as people aren't developing any symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reduced its recommended period to 5 days. The agency also said that within five days of ending quarantine, people should wear masks around other people. Amazon employees who test positive will also receive up to 40 hours of paid time off.
Under cdc's protocol, workers can come back to work without having to show a negative covid-19 test result. The Wall Street Journal notes that Amazon has nearly 1 million employees in the United States, the second-largest private employer in the United States. The move comes as the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly. On Monday, more than 1 million new cases of COVID were reported in the United States, and infections and hospitalizations were on the rise. Several big tech companies, including T-Mobile and Meta, slashed plans for CES 2022 this week, with big events such as the Grammys and Sundance either being postponed or transitioning to online events.
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