As major Chattanooga employers report positive cases of COVID-19, companies say they’re taking a wide range of steps, and spending money, to focus on worker safety.
Online giant Amazon said Friday that an employee at its Chattanooga distribution center at Enterprise South industrial park has tested positive for COVID-19.
“We are supporting the individual who is recovering,” said company spokeswoman Ali Hutchins. “Our top concern is ensuring the health and safety of our employees.”
Hutchins said Amazon expects to invest companywide about $4 billion from April to June on coronavirus-related initiatives to get products to customers and keep employees safe.
“This includes spending more than $800 million in the first half of the year on COVID-19 safety measures, with investments in personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning of our facilities, less efficient process paths that better allow for effective social distancing, higher wages for hourly teams, and developing our own COVID-19 testing capabilities … ,” she said.