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Worker at Amazon fulfillment center in Riverside County tests positive for COVID-19

Updated  March 30, 2020 9:26am PDT
Coronavirus
City News Service
article

(Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

EASTVALE, Calif. - A worker at an Amazon facility in Eastvale tested positive for COVID-19, the e-commerce giant announced on Sunday.

“We are supporting the individual who is recovering,” the company said in a statement. “We are following guidelines from health officials and medical experts, and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site.”

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Amazon said all associates who had close contact with the person in the facility will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. During that time, quarantined employees will be paid.

RELATED: Can coronavirus spread from mail or packages? Not likely, health experts say

All hourly employees have unlimited unpaid time off through April and all employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or who need to go into quarantine will receive up to two weeks of pay, Amazon said.

The company also said they are stepping up sanitizing efforts and ensuring employees practice social distancing.

Why social distancing can save lives amid COVID-19 pandemic

Social distancing is not only about preventing the illness itself, but rather, slowing the rate at which people get sick. 

Last week, Amazon reported that an employee at a fulfillment center in Moreno Valley tested positive for COVID-19.

The World Health Organization said the likelihood of contracting the virus from a package is low.

RELATED: CoronavirusNOW.com, FOX launches national hub for COVID-19 news and updates.