Amazon employees sue over 'sloppy' contact tracing

Three Amazon warehouse workers have sued the tech giant over its contact tracing efforts during the pandemic, according to CNBC.

The lawsuit alleges Amazon didn't follow proper guidelines from CDC and other public health agencies when it comes to contact tracing and stopping the spread of COVID-19. Derrick Palmer, a worker at the company's warehouse in the New York City borough of Staten Island and one of the individuals filing suit against Amazon, said his supervisor tested positive for COVID-19; when Mr. Palmer reported he had recently been in contact with his supervisor, the company still told him to go to work the next day.

There have been several new cases of COVID-19 at the warehouse since Mr. Palmer's supervisor tested positive, according to the report. The lawsuit claims Amazon's "sloppy contact tracing" has put its workers at risk. However, Amazon maintains that it has followed local and federal guidelines at its sites, including the CDC's guidelines for contact tracing. Amazon has cameras at its warehouse and told CNBC that it reviews the cameras for information about employee location at its sites, as well as interviews individuals about their contact with others.

Amazon reviews videos from 24 hours prior to the COVID-19 test, but the virus can spread 48 hours before symptoms become apparent, according to the report. The employees have requested that the court procure an injunction requiring Amazon to follow public health standards; they aren't seeking financial compensation.

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