buzzfeednews--2020-03-09--A GOP Lawmaker Accidentally Started A Great Meme After Tweeting About "Life And Mortality" And The C

A GOP Lawmaker Accidentally Started A Great Meme After Tweeting About "Life And Mortality" And The Coronavirus

Been thinking about life and mortality today .
I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does .
Rep. Paul Gosar , an @ @ @ @ @ 's elected to be in isolation after coming in contact with someone who was hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ started a meme .
`` Been thinking about life and mortality today , '' he @ @ @ @ @ was still self-quarantined .
`` I ’ d rather die gloriously in battle than from @ @ @ @ @ way it doesn ’ t matter .
But it kinda does . ''
The tweet @ @ @ @ @ gruesome scene from the 2018 movie The Great Battle .
At first , people were @ @ @ @ @ , with one person literally responding , `` This is weird , dude . ''
@ @ @ @ @ and fantastically , his tweet took off .

Rep. Paul Gosar, an Arizona member of Congress who's elected to be in isolation after coming in contact with someone who was hospitalized with COVID-19, has unintentionally started a meme.
"Been thinking about life and mortality today," he tweeted on Monday as he was still self-quarantined. "I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does."
The tweet included an image of a gruesome scene from the 2018 movie The Great Battle.
At first, people were confused by Gosar's musings, with one person literally responding, "This is weird, dude."
And then, soon after and fantastically, his tweet took off.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-11--Fear Among Immigrant Detainees Spreads As Coronavirus Outbreaks Hit ICE Detention Centers

`` At this point we 're just waiting to be next because the virus is passed so easily , '' one detainee told BuzzFeed News .
Oswaldo , an asylum-seeker from El Salvador detained at an ICE facility in California who has asthma , fears what will happen if he contracts the coronavirus and needs one of the nation 's limited number of ventilators .
The anxious 28-year-old is scared that as an immigrant in US custody , he wo n't be a priority and worries it will be COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , that ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to flee .
Oswaldo , who declined to use his full name fearing retaliation , is one of more than 33,000 immigrants held by ICE in a network of jails that has seen cases of coronavirus increase by the day .
As of Friday afternoon , there were at least 61 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among immigrant detainees held by ICE , according to the agency .
But a few jails have been hit particularly hard .
The Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego , where Oswaldo is held , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Oswaldo is in a unit of more than 40 men , one of whom has a cough and another , headaches .
Both are symptoms of COVID-19 , but he said they haven ’ t been tested to be sure .
`` At this point , we 're just waiting to be next because the virus is passed so easily , '' Oswaldo told BuzzFeed News in Spanish .
`` We 're all scared . ''
The conditions described by detainees and immigrant advocates highlight the health threats posed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The agency has attempted to assure congressional officials and the public that it is carefully examining the issue and has even released certain “ vulnerable detainees , ” but advocates said there are inherent problems within the detention facilities — like a lack of necessary space to accommodate proper social distancing guidelines — to safeguard from potentially deadly outbreaks .
In the meantime , those within the sprawling network of hundreds of private and local jails that hold the more than 33,000 immigrants have reported a growing sense of panic .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more immigrants with underlying medical issues and to scale back arrests , saying detention facilities are ripe for mass infections and casualties .
Oswaldo said that in addition to being worried about catching COVID-19 from a fellow detainee , he was concerned about guards who interact with immigrants because they move throughout the detention center and could unknowingly bring the virus from outside .
CoreCivic , which operates the facility under a contract with ICE , said it also has six confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus among employees at Otay Mesa .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraged employees to socially distance , but it is not a requirement and Oswaldo said the guards aren ’ t staying the recommended 6 feet away from others .
Agency officials have said that high-level experts are monitoring best practices and issuing guidelines on when to isolate certain detainees and to screen those entering facilities .
In many situations , detention officials are separating immigrants who have been exposed to the virus and keeping them isolated .
`` The health , welfare and safety of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s highest priorities , '' the agency said in a statement .
Oswaldo said he was one of 12 people in his unit who have participated in hunger strikes in recent weeks to protest their detention during the coronavirus pandemic .
Oswaldo said they would take the food from guards but refuse to eat it .
If they do n't take the food , they ’ re threatened with solitary confinement , he said .
Advocates said there have been hunger strikes at the Otay Mesa facility since April 3 with a fluctuating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICE said there was only one detainee at Otay Mesa who was on a hunger strike after refusing meals on April 6 .
On Sunday morning , Oswaldo said guards at Otay Mesa Detention Center took him and several other hunger strikers to `` the hole , '' where they remained until Tuesday .
Silky Shah , executive director of Detention Watch Network , an organization that seeks to abolish immigration detention , said that in the last three weeks there have been at least 14 confirmed hunger strikes across the country in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 33-year-old detainee at Otay Mesa from El Salvador , said he has a heart arrhythmia .
The asylum-seeker said there are other people at the facility with ailments such as tuberculosis and asthma who could suffer complications from COVID-19 .
`` It 's a ticking time bomb in here , '' Heber told BuzzFeed News in Spanish .
Heber was sent to the Otay Mesa Detention Center on Feb. 14 , and then about a month later was taken to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County a few hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were n't able to socially distance and were n't given masks , Heber said .
When they got off the bus , Heber was one of six ICE detainees found to have fevers .
But they were later sent to a holding area with other detainees , potentially exposing them to the virus , Heber said .
On March 18 , ICE moved Heber back to Otay Mesa Detention Center , where he was held for 12 days in isolation before being placed with everyone else .
He said he was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hunger strike .
`` We are asking ICE to give us the opportunity to fight our cases from outside detention , '' Heber said .
`` We 're human beings whose only crime is being in this great country without papers . ''
Aldo Jovani Camacho Lopez , a Mexican man detained at Pike County Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania , tested positive for COVID-19 on April 2 .
There have been five confirmed cases of the virus at the detention center .
The facility provided him with Gatorade and multivitamins for treatment after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit requesting his release .
His cellmate also tested positive for the disease , according to court documents .
On April 5 , he told medical staff he had difficulty breathing and felt “ as though he can not get enough air , ” according to court files .
He was later taken to a hospital for treatment .
His attorney , Christopher Casazza , has said that he believes others within the jail , which also houses county inmates , will come down with the illness as well .
“ I honestly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the people at Pike are not going to have COVID-19 within a couple of weeks , if they don ’ t have it already , ” Casazza said .
“ I am convinced everyone there is going to get COVID-19.
” Fnu Mansyur , a 42-year-old Indonesian man and former detainee who was released in recent weeks from Pike , said that up until late March , staffers at the facility were not wearing masks and gloves .
One ICE detainee currently at the facility told BuzzFeed News that immigrants were screaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of correctional officers patrolling the facility , he said , had dwindled .
Seven staffers at the jail and five ICE detainees had tested positive for the disease as of earlier this week .
Two county inmates who had tested positive died .
He has noticed detainees in his unit coughing , sneezing , and appearing to be sick .
In recent days , others in the facility have been quarantined and separated .
There was no hand sanitizer , he said .
“ We are feeling scared , ” he told BuzzFeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind.
” As of April 2 , ICE had released 32 detainees from Pike County Correctional Facility , according to local officials , who wrote in a press release this week that the agency was “ actively working to reduce ” the population there .
The jail has taken to locking down the facility as a preventive measure .
Camacho Lopez was discharged from the hospital on Thursday and was returned to Pike , his attorney said .
“ What is happening here is inevitable , ” said Marc Stern , a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Washington .
“ None of this is a surprise .
Once there is an appreciable level of infection inside , depending on how quickly they isolated people and took steps , anybody would ’ ve feared a spread pretty quickly.
” Dorien Ediger-Seto , senior attorney at the National Immigrant Justice Center , said ICE had a terrible track record of providing appropriate medical care to immigrants long before the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` I often hear people joke that if anything is wrong with you , the nurses will tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Ediger-Seto on a call with reporters .
`` It 's really not an agency that is equipped or able to provide the type of care people need on a daily basis , let alone when there is such a serious infectious disease that has brought the world to its knees . ''
The way people are detained at ICE detention facilities also makes it impossible for immigrants to protect themselves from the coronavirus , Ediger-Seto said .
`` Deportation is already a death sentence for many of our clients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting for their day in court , ” he added .
Ediger-Seto said there is inconsistent access to cleaning and disinfectant supplies inside facilities like Otay Mesa .
Immigrants are also forced to eat in their cells near toilets , and meals are often late because fewer detainees are willing to work for $ 1 a day in the kitchen and risk potential infection from fellow asymptomatic workers .
In an ACLU case that has resulted in orders approving the release of detainees from Pike County Correctional Facility and York County Prison in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones said it was “ clear ” protective measures at the two prisons were not working .
“ We can only expect the number of positive COVID-19 cases to increase in the coming days and weeks , and we can not leave the most fragile among us to face that growing danger unprotected , ” Jones wrote in a court filing .
ICE has identified 600 detainees for possible release because they have been deemed “ vulnerable ” to the coronavirus , according to an email sent to congressional staffers on Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of the effort .

Oswaldo, an asylum-seeker from El Salvador detained at an ICE facility in California who has asthma, fears what will happen if he contracts the coronavirus and needs one of the nation's limited number of ventilators.
The anxious 28-year-old is scared that as an immigrant in US custody, he won't be a priority and worries it will be COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, that ultimately kills him instead of the violence he tried to flee. Oswaldo, who declined to use his full name fearing retaliation, is one of more than 33,000 immigrants held by ICE in a network of jails that has seen cases of coronavirus increase by the day.
As of Friday afternoon, there were at least 61 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among immigrant detainees held by ICE, according to the agency. But a few jails have been hit particularly hard.
The Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, where Oswaldo is held, has the most, with 10 detainees contracting the coronavirus. Oswaldo is in a unit of more than 40 men, one of whom has a cough and another, headaches. Both are symptoms of COVID-19, but he said they haven’t been tested to be sure.
"At this point, we're just waiting to be next because the virus is passed so easily," Oswaldo told BuzzFeed News in Spanish. "We're all scared."
The conditions described by detainees and immigrant advocates highlight the health threats posed by the highly contagious disease within ICE custody. The agency has attempted to assure congressional officials and the public that it is carefully examining the issue and has even released certain “vulnerable detainees,” but advocates said there are inherent problems within the detention facilities — like a lack of necessary space to accommodate proper social distancing guidelines — to safeguard from potentially deadly outbreaks.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-11--Why Won’t My Boyfriend Let Me Visit Him? When Will I Have Sex Again? How To Plague

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Send me your questions at katie @ buzzfeed.com , or sign up for our text messaging service to send me questions that way .
Hi , I ’ m Katie Notopoulos , a tech reporter here at BuzzFeed News , and I have no actual expertise in epidemiology , but I sure do enjoy telling people how to live their lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ person to tell you How to Plague .
This is BuzzFeed News ' advice column for these incredibly confusing times .
The coronavirus pandemic is changing rapidly , with new information coming out seemingly by the hour .
I ’ ll try to help with your queries about social distancing etiquette and ethical dilemmas large and small , and call up some actual experts to weigh in when needed .
Given that according to a Imperial College London report , the quarantine could last up to two years , unless a vaccine is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we all supposed to remain celibate FOR TWO YEARS if we are n't already living with a sexual partner ?
You say this as if it ’ s a bad thing .
Sex ( coitus ) is disgusting , ruins lives , and is the main cause of overpopulation .
Frankly , it ’ s a good thing we ’ ve all stopped — people who live with their significant others included .
Imagine all the things you can get done now that you don ’ t have to worry about finding another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheer hours of free time to devote yourself to your hobbies !
You could finally get those six-pack abs you wanted to attract a mate , but instead have the self-satisfaction of knowing you did it for yourself , rather than impressing others .
Teach yourself to knit , or bake , or code , or speak Farsi .
Think of all the ways the hideous act of mashing your genitals up against another person ’ s has been holding you back from living your best life .
I ’ m no epidemiologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this whole coronavirus problem could have been solved if everyone just stopped trying to have sex two years ago .
That said , if things do last for two years , social distancing will likely start and stop a few times until there ’ s a vaccine .
So although sex is terrible and gross and dirty like a muddy piece of cheese you found in the road on your way home from the arboretum in the rain , there may be windows of opportunity that occasionally open up for you to swallow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve seen a lot of pieces about couples co-quarantining , but what I haven ’ t seen is a piece about significant others who don ’ t live together .
My boyfriend and I live about an hour apart and until quarantine hit we were spending our weekends together .
Now , he ’ s nervous about us infecting each other .
I don ’ t know how to handle this , especially because all of my friends with significant others are still seeing them .
We each live alone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporarily moving in together isn ’ t a good option for us .
I don ’ t know when I will be able to see my boyfriend in-person again , and I ’ m not doing well with that — it ’ s tough on me emotionally , although he seems fine , despite saying he misses me .
I find myself fixating on tiny cracks and resenting him .
Am I being unreasonable in my desire to see him ?
How can I stop reading into every little thing as a sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about me ?
I have good news and bad news .
The good news is that if you ’ re both self-isolating without roommates or other people , you should be fine to see each other and spend the weekends together , etc .
You can consider yourselves to be a two-person household .
The bad news is that despite this kind of obvious fact that you could see each other , he ’ s choosing not to .
This is potentially troubling for the state of your relationship , as you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( I mean… See question one , above . )
In the interest of democracy , I ’ d like readers to weigh in .

Given that according to a Imperial College London report, the quarantine could last up to two years, unless a vaccine is developed and distributed to everybody, are we all supposed to remain celibate FOR TWO YEARS if we aren't already living with a sexual partner?
—Derek, Virginia
You say this as if it’s a bad thing. Sex (coitus) is disgusting, ruins lives, and is the main cause of overpopulation. Frankly, it’s a good thing we’ve all stopped — people who live with their significant others included.
Imagine all the things you can get done now that you don’t have to worry about finding another human to have sex with! The sheer hours of free time to devote yourself to your hobbies! You could finally get those six-pack abs you wanted to attract a mate, but instead have the self-satisfaction of knowing you did it for yourself, rather than impressing others. Teach yourself to knit, or bake, or code, or speak Farsi. Think of all the ways the hideous act of mashing your genitals up against another person’s has been holding you back from living your best life. I’m no epidemiologist, but I’m pretty certain this whole coronavirus problem could have been solved if everyone just stopped trying to have sex two years ago.
That said, if things do last for two years, social distancing will likely start and stop a few times until there’s a vaccine. So although sex is terrible and gross and dirty like a muddy piece of cheese you found in the road on your way home from the arboretum in the rain, there may be windows of opportunity that occasionally open up for you to swallow your unclean curds. Plan ahead.
I’ve seen a lot of pieces about couples co-quarantining, but what I haven’t seen is a piece about significant others who don’t live together. My boyfriend and I live about an hour apart and until quarantine hit we were spending our weekends together. Now, he’s nervous about us infecting each other. I don’t know how to handle this, especially because all of my friends with significant others are still seeing them. We each live alone, but for a bunch of reasons, temporarily moving in together isn’t a good option for us.
I don’t know when I will be able to see my boyfriend in-person again, and I’m not doing well with that — it’s tough on me emotionally, although he seems fine, despite saying he misses me. I find myself fixating on tiny cracks and resenting him. Am I being unreasonable in my desire to see him? How can I stop reading into every little thing as a sign that he doesn’t actually care about me?
—Anonymous
I have good news and bad news. The good news is that if you’re both self-isolating without roommates or other people, you should be fine to see each other and spend the weekends together, etc. You can consider yourselves to be a two-person household.
The bad news is that despite this kind of obvious fact that you could see each other, he’s choosing not to. This is potentially troubling for the state of your relationship, as you have already seemed to pick up on. (I mean… See question one, above.)
In the interest of democracy, I’d like readers to weigh in.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-11--Amazon Says Employees Quarantined By A Doctor Will Get Paid, But So Far Many Say They Haven’t

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
“ They just ignored the [ doctor ’ s ] note , dragged it on for weeks , [ and ] now I can ’ t find a [ doctor ] that will fill out [ the ] paperwork , ” she said .
One employee at a warehouse in Florida , Donna , who asked to be identified only by her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said she was told by a doctor to stay home and quarantine after she developed a cough , a headache , and chest pain .
Donna reported her case to her human resources manager and provided the doctor ’ s note .
But instead of paying her , she said , her human resources manager told her to contact the company ’ s Disability and Leave Services team .
That team did not accept her original doctor ’ s note .
Instead , they gave her more paperwork to be filled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time that happened , Donna was no longer sick and unable to contact her doctor , who was busy during the pandemic .
But seven employees around the country told BuzzFeed News they haven ’ t been paid and can ’ t get answers from Amazon ’ s human resources department about their cases .
They also report widespread confusion about the company ’ s policies .
Amazon , which employs hundreds of thousands of workers in its warehouses and has seen a surge in business during the pandemic because customers can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that any failure to pay employees who are at home in physician-ordered quarantine was an error .
In response to questions from BuzzFeed News about its payment policies for employees under quarantine , Amazon officials late Thursday evening said those March 20 documents are old and that all employees placed into quarantine by a doctor will eventually receive two weeks of full pay .
Under increasing public pressure over its response to the coronavirus pandemic , Amazon has repeatedly said that employees “ placed into quarantine ” will receive up to two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines from late last month have no provision for paying employees whose doctor has quarantined them but who have not received an official diagnosis .
And Amazon workers around the country on physician-ordered quarantine because of the pandemic say they have not been paid .
Even worse , being put on a leave of absence caused her to lose a promotion she was expecting and the raise that went along with it .
As the sole breadwinner in her household , she said it has been financially devastating .
“ My car will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I could n't pay it , ” she said .
“ I managed to use every penny to pay rent .
I 'm so behind in bills now .
” This week , Donna began trying to sell her collection of vintage My Little Pony dolls to raise money .
Many employees say cases like Donna ’ s illustrate a disconnect between Amazon ’ s public messaging about its policies on paid leave and what is actually happening .
In a March 11 blog post , Amazon Senior Vice President of Human Resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all Amazon employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine will receive up to two-weeks of pay.
” But on March 20 , Amazon sent instructions to its on-site human resources employees in at least two warehouses that muddied that promise , leaving some of them confused about the company ’ s compensation rules during the health crisis .
Those instructions , shared with BuzzFeed News by an HR employee who requested anonymity out of concern for retaliation , said that employees quarantined by the government or by Amazon will be paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paid Time.
” But employees who are in “ physician-directed quarantine or self-isolation , ” by contrast , would only qualify for two weeks of paid time off “ If COVID diagnosis or presumptive.
” The two HR employees said the written policy doesn ’ t say whether employees who stayed home with symptoms on a doctor ’ s orders but later tested negative for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , would get paid .
It also fails to provide guidance on whether to pay someone who had symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shortage of tests or a doctor ’ s recommendation that they avoid medical facilities while contagious .
Finally , it says that employees caring for a dependent or spouse who has tested positive may use vacation time but would not get paid leave .
Asked to comment on this story , an Amazon spokesperson said the March 20 documents may no longer be current and that “ all Amazon employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine by Amazon , a doctor or a government agency , receive two weeks of full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s senior vice president of global corporate affairs , told the New York Times on April 5 that , due to the shortage of COVID-19 tests in the United States , Amazon had ” made it clear that the additional paid time off applied to people who had suspected they had Covid.
” Still , the two HR employees who spoke with BuzzFeed News this week said they haven ’ t received an update regarding the policy .
Andre Matteson , who works at a warehouse near Portland , Oregon , was sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cough and told to see a doctor before he came back .
Matteson said Amazon told him he ’ d be paid for the time off as long as he provided a doctor ’ s note ; he went home and called a doctor , who told him he could be having symptoms of COVID-19 and provided a note instructing him to quarantine for at least a week .
His symptoms didn ’ t worsen and he was never tested ; when he went back to work , he was told that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go home and apply for a leave of absence .
“ I said , ‘ You never told me that last week !
You just said [ to ] provide you with the letter and I could return to work .
I self-quarantined as you told me to do !
’ ” Matteson said .
“ I still need to get paid.
” Matteson said Amazon probably owes him more than $ 500 , but trying to get that money has so far entailed “ jumping through one hoop after another.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay workers put in quarantine “ really just a public relations thing.
” An Amazon HR staffer based in Missouri said there was confusion among staff about the discrepancy between the company ’ s public statements and the guidelines they were given on March 20 .
`` The original announcement ... did say if you ’ re quarantined or feel the need to quarantine you would get paid , but that was never adjusted internally , ” that human resources employee said .
“ We ’ re answering a lot of questions [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what the website says , ’ and when we reached out to our management or leave teams , they were saying , ‘ No , it ’ s not happening.
’ People get really upset . ''
Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in touch .
And if you 're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand , we ’ d also love to hear from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels ) .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide two weeks of paid leave to employees quarantined by a doctor , but Amazon is exempted from that rule because it employs more than 500 people .
Many large companies whose services are in high demand during the pandemic have been adjusting their policies on the fly to adapt to changing conditions .
Walmart said it will pay employees diagnosed with COVID-19 for up to two weeks but did not promise quarantine pay for those who don ’ t ultimately test positive for COVID-19 .
Lowe ’ s and Target have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee who tests positive or is quarantined , though thousands of contract workers at Target aren ’ t being offered the same benefits .
The grocery chain Kroger also said it would pay quarantined employees , as did BJ ’ s Wholesale Club , according to Business Insider .
A UPS spokesperson said employees told to quarantine by a doctor due to coronavirus exposure will be eligible for paid time off ; FedEx has said employees placed under “ a medically required quarantine ” will be paid , according to NBC News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that many other large companies aren ’ t paying sick time at all during the pandemic .
According to the documents reviewed by BuzzFeed News , Amazon employees who are seeking pay while quarantined by a doctor are instructed to apply for compensation from Amazon ’ s Disability and Leave Services .
DLS is an independent division of Amazon ’ s HR department that normally handles family leave for new parents and short-term disability cases .
Amazon employees say the team , which was already stretched thin , has been overwhelmed by calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t enough of them to begin with before this happened , ” said an Amazon employee at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey .
“ I do n't know that they were equipped to handle ... all the extra [ cases ] .
” That employee , who works in the HR department and requested anonymity to protect her employment , got sick three weeks ago and was instructed by a doctor to stay home while she waited for the results of a COVID-19 test .
The test results were delayed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got them she was negative .
Now she ’ s ready to return to work — but even though she herself works in HR , she isn ’ t sure whether she ’ ll be paid for the two weeks during which she stayed home without pay .
“ I ’ m having trouble getting into contact with the leave team , ” she said .
“ They sent me one email and then no one responded.
” An Amazon warehouse associate in Hazleton , Pennsylvania , is also struggling to get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on quarantine for three weeks .
The employee , who requested anonymity , went to a doctor with symptoms three weeks ago .
She provided Amazon HR with a note from her doctor instructing her to stay home .
On March 25 , her COVID-19 test results came back negative .
But she hasn ’ t been back to work , because Amazon HR placed her on unpaid leave and she hasn ’ t yet been able to reach anyone in human resources to get permission to return to work .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yesterday again and still haven ’ t , ” she said on Thursday evening .
In the meantime , she said , “ I can ’ t pay my mortgage , my car loan , my car insurance , my other bills , ” or afford food for “ my two little girls.
” Experts say that people who don ’ t get paid sick time are more likely to come to work even if they feel sick or a doctor told them not to , which could contribute to the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they recommend that workers told to stay home get paid .
“ If that person is n't being paid , they have an incentive to break the quarantine and expose others to infection , ” said Lawrence Gostin , director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for National and Global Health Law .
“ From a public health perspective , anyone in a medical quarantine should be paid because they are clearly unable to come to work due to potential infectiousness .
“ When it comes to infectious diseases , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick leave [ policies ] because you do n't want to encourage a culture of presentee-ism in which sick workers come to the workplace , potentially spread the infection , and are not optimally productive because they are sick , ” said Amesh Adalja with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security .
The Missouri-based HR staffer said she ’ s particularly worried about at-risk workers in her facility .
“ It definitely concerns me as an HR person , ” she said .
“ We have a lot of older population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re trying to make ends meet ... of course they ’ re still going to come in .
They ’ re going to do whatever they need to do to pay the bills.
” The New Jersey–based Amazon HR employee echoed that concern .
“ People need to be paid now or they ’ re going to keep coming to work and risk making other people sick , ” she said .
A California-based driver who works for an Amazon contractor called Shipmates told BuzzFeed News that he also hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stayed home after his doctor told him his symptoms were consistent with COVID-19 .
At the time , he assumed he could apply for pay to cover that leave from the $ 25 million Amazon Relief Fund the company announced on March 11 , because a fact sheet he received about the program said that `` the Fund will focus on qualifying individuals in the U.S. who have been quarantined for or diagnosed with COVID-19 . ''
But now his application for pay has been denied , and Amazon ’ s website currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its third-party contractors , as well as independently contracted Flex drivers , would be eligible to apply for two weeks of paid leave from the Amazon Relief Fund “ if diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine by the government or Amazon.
” As the driver was quarantined by a doctor and tested negative , he said , he fears he ’ s not eligible for the fund and can ’ t get answers .
Going on two weeks without pay , the driver said he ’ s had to negotiate with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dates for student loan and car payments and isn ’ t sure how he ’ s going to pay his cellphone bill this month .
“ Amazon made it seem like they would take care of me , and they ’ re not doing that , ” he said .
There are currently at least 70 Amazon facilities where an employee has tested positive for COVID-19 , according to research by the Athena coalition , a group of organizations focused on issues related to Amazon .
News reports say one warehouse in Staten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive diagnoses .
Meanwhile , customer orders have spiked at Amazon as retail stores have temporarily shuttered and people on lockdown are going online to order household goods and food .
Amazon ’ s challenge is to keep up with these orders even as attendance rates on some shifts have fallen as low as 53 % .
To entice people to come to work , the Missouri-based HR associate said management in her building is hosting raffles , offering free , prepackaged snacks , and sharing positive comments from customers .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the associates to see that what they 're doing is needed and essential , ” she said .
The company is also taking steps to make sure employees who may be contagious are sent home so they can ’ t infect coworkers .
When employees test positive for COVID-19 , Amazon uses a combination of video surveillance and its package-scanning system , which tracks workers ’ movements throughout a warehouse , to determine which employees have come into “ close contact ” with infected workers and inform them of their exposure .
Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and pays them for up to 14 days .
According to employee screening documents provided to Amazon HR staff on March 20 and reviewed by BuzzFeed News , Amazon employees who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 , including a fever or a sore throat , are asked to go home and use vacation pay if they have it— but if an employee reports that a family member has tested positive for COVID-19 , “ the associate does not need to be sent home at this time.
” HR managers should “ encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as they are symptom-free.
” It was unclear whether this was still the policy .
Amazon has said policies put in place three weeks ago may no longer be current , but it has not provided details .
Until this week , the CDC had recommended that workers exposed to the coronavirus stay home .
But on Wednesday evening , the CDC issued an update on its safety guidelines for “ critical infrastructure workers ” who ’ ve been exposed to the coronavirus .
This new guidance says that workers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 may continue reporting to work “ provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.
” Those precautions include temperature checks , 6 feet of social distancing , wearing a mask , and disinfecting “ offices , bathrooms , common areas , shared electronic equipment routinely.
” Amazon instituted temperature checks last week and began distributing masks to warehouse employees this week .
The company also said it ’ s experimenting with disinfectant fogging , spraying disinfectant to kill any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Amazon has said it ’ s working to enforce social distancing in its warehouses , but employees say the nature of the work , layout of the buildings , and number of workers on shift at a time make it difficult to stay 6 feet away from each other at all times .
At the Missouri facility , the company has also closed access to lockers and staggered shift start times to prevent workers from concentrating in crowded places .
But the building runs 24 hours a day , and the cleaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half in the afternoon to work without associates present .
An HR employee there said she worries it ’ s not enough .
“ It ’ s a pacifier , ” she said .
“ It ’ s ‘ Yes , we ’ re protecting you — but ... we ’ re not really doing anything.
’ It ’ s meant to make you feel more comfortable so you can come to work.
” She said no one at her building so far has received quarantine pay , which she said is confusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s a lot of frustration for us as HR , ” she said .
“ There 's nothing we can do .
”

Even worse, being put on a leave of absence caused her to lose a promotion she was expecting and the raise that went along with it. As the sole breadwinner in her household, she said it has been financially devastating.
“My car will most likely get repo’ed since I couldn't pay it,” she said. “I managed to use every penny to pay rent. I'm so behind in bills now. ” This week, Donna began trying to sell her collection of vintage My Little Pony dolls to raise money.
Many employees say cases like Donna’s illustrate a disconnect between Amazon’s public messaging about its policies on paid leave and what is actually happening.
In a March 11 blog post, Amazon Senior Vice President of Human Resources Beth Galetti wrote, “Effective immediately, all Amazon employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine will receive up to two-weeks of pay.”
But on March 20, Amazon sent instructions to its on-site human resources employees in at least two warehouses that muddied that promise, leaving some of them confused about the company’s compensation rules during the health crisis.
Those instructions, shared with BuzzFeed News by an HR employee who requested anonymity out of concern for retaliation, said that employees quarantined by the government or by Amazon will be paid for “up to 14 days Non-Working Paid Time.” But employees who are in “physician-directed quarantine or self-isolation,” by contrast, would only qualify for two weeks of paid time off “If COVID diagnosis or presumptive.”
The two HR employees said the written policy doesn’t say whether employees who stayed home with symptoms on a doctor’s orders but later tested negative for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, would get paid. It also fails to provide guidance on whether to pay someone who had symptoms but was never diagnosed either due to a shortage of tests or a doctor’s recommendation that they avoid medical facilities while contagious. Finally, it says that employees caring for a dependent or spouse who has tested positive may use vacation time but would not get paid leave.
Asked to comment on this story, an Amazon spokesperson said the March 20 documents may no longer be current and that “all Amazon employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine by Amazon, a doctor or a government agency, receive two weeks of full pay.”
Jay Carney, Amazon’s senior vice president of global corporate affairs, told the New York Times on April 5 that, due to the shortage of COVID-19 tests in the United States, Amazon had ”made it clear that the additional paid time off applied to people who had suspected they had Covid.”
Still, the two HR employees who spoke with BuzzFeed News this week said they haven’t received an update regarding the policy.
Andre Matteson, who works at a warehouse near Portland, Oregon, was sent home by Amazon on March 22 with a cough and told to see a doctor before he came back. Matteson said Amazon told him he’d be paid for the time off as long as he provided a doctor’s note; he went home and called a doctor, who told him he could be having symptoms of COVID-19 and provided a note instructing him to quarantine for at least a week. His symptoms didn’t worsen and he was never tested; when he went back to work, he was told that to get paid he’d have to go home and apply for a leave of absence.
“I said, ‘You never told me that last week! You just said [to] provide you with the letter and I could return to work. I self-quarantined as you told me to do!’” Matteson said. “I still need to get paid.”
Matteson said Amazon probably owes him more than $500, but trying to get that money has so far entailed “jumping through one hoop after another.” He called Amazon’s promise to pay workers put in quarantine “really just a public relations thing.”
An Amazon HR staffer based in Missouri said there was confusion among staff about the discrepancy between the company’s public statements and the guidelines they were given on March 20.
"The original announcement ... did say if you’re quarantined or feel the need to quarantine you would get paid, but that was never adjusted internally,” that human resources employee said. “We’re answering a lot of questions [from] associates saying, ‘This is what the website says,’ and when we reached out to our management or leave teams, they were saying, ‘No, it’s not happening.’ People get really upset."
Do you have questions you want answered? You can always get in touch. And if you're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand, we’d also love to hear from you (you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels).
The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act requires companies to provide two weeks of paid leave to employees quarantined by a doctor, but Amazon is exempted from that rule because it employs more than 500 people.
Many large companies whose services are in high demand during the pandemic have been adjusting their policies on the fly to adapt to changing conditions. Walmart said it will pay employees diagnosed with COVID-19 for up to two weeks but did not promise quarantine pay for those who don’t ultimately test positive for COVID-19. Lowe’s and Target have both promised 14 days paid to any employee who tests positive or is quarantined, though thousands of contract workers at Target aren’t being offered the same benefits. The grocery chain Kroger also said it would pay quarantined employees, as did BJ’s Wholesale Club, according to Business Insider. A UPS spokesperson said employees told to quarantine by a doctor due to coronavirus exposure will be eligible for paid time off; FedEx has said employees placed under “a medically required quarantine” will be paid, according to NBC News. A BuzzFeed News investigation published Friday found that many other large companies aren’t paying sick time at all during the pandemic.
According to the documents reviewed by BuzzFeed News, Amazon employees who are seeking pay while quarantined by a doctor are instructed to apply for compensation from Amazon’s Disability and Leave Services. DLS is an independent division of Amazon’s HR department that normally handles family leave for new parents and short-term disability cases. Amazon employees say the team, which was already stretched thin, has been overwhelmed by calls about the coronavirus.
“There weren’t enough of them to begin with before this happened,” said an Amazon employee at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey. “I don't know that they were equipped to handle ... all the extra [cases].”
That employee, who works in the HR department and requested anonymity to protect her employment, got sick three weeks ago and was instructed by a doctor to stay home while she waited for the results of a COVID-19 test. The test results were delayed for 10 days, but when she finally got them she was negative. Now she’s ready to return to work — but even though she herself works in HR, she isn’t sure whether she’ll be paid for the two weeks during which she stayed home without pay. “I’m having trouble getting into contact with the leave team,” she said. “They sent me one email and then no one responded.”
An Amazon warehouse associate in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, is also struggling to get a response from the company after being out on quarantine for three weeks. The employee, who requested anonymity, went to a doctor with symptoms three weeks ago. She provided Amazon HR with a note from her doctor instructing her to stay home. On March 25, her COVID-19 test results came back negative. But she hasn’t been back to work, because Amazon HR placed her on unpaid leave and she hasn’t yet been able to reach anyone in human resources to get permission to return to work.
“They were suppose[d] to call yesterday again and still haven’t,” she said on Thursday evening. In the meantime, she said, “I can’t pay my mortgage, my car loan, my car insurance, my other bills,” or afford food for “my two little girls.”
Experts say that people who don’t get paid sick time are more likely to come to work even if they feel sick or a doctor told them not to, which could contribute to the spread of the pandemic. For that reason, they recommend that workers told to stay home get paid.
“If that person isn't being paid, they have an incentive to break the quarantine and expose others to infection,” said Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for National and Global Health Law. “From a public health perspective, anyone in a medical quarantine should be paid because they are clearly unable to come to work due to potential infectiousness.
“When it comes to infectious diseases, it is important for companies to have liberal paid sick leave [policies] because you don't want to encourage a culture of presentee-ism in which sick workers come to the workplace, potentially spread the infection, and are not optimally productive because they are sick,” said Amesh Adalja with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.
The Missouri-based HR staffer said she’s particularly worried about at-risk workers in her facility. “It definitely concerns me as an HR person,” she said. “We have a lot of older population that works for us. If they’re trying to make ends meet ... of course they’re still going to come in. They’re going to do whatever they need to do to pay the bills.”
The New Jersey–based Amazon HR employee echoed that concern. “People need to be paid now or they’re going to keep coming to work and risk making other people sick,” she said.
A California-based driver who works for an Amazon contractor called Shipmates told BuzzFeed News that he also hasn’t been paid for the two weeks he stayed home after his doctor told him his symptoms were consistent with COVID-19. At the time, he assumed he could apply for pay to cover that leave from the $25 million Amazon Relief Fund the company announced on March 11, because a fact sheet he received about the program said that "the Fund will focus on qualifying individuals in the U.S. who have been quarantined for or diagnosed with COVID-19."
But now his application for pay has been denied, and Amazon’s website currently says that delivery drivers who ship packages for its third-party contractors, as well as independently contracted Flex drivers, would be eligible to apply for two weeks of paid leave from the Amazon Relief Fund “if diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine by the government or Amazon.” As the driver was quarantined by a doctor and tested negative, he said, he fears he’s not eligible for the fund and can’t get answers.
Going on two weeks without pay, the driver said he’s had to negotiate with banks and insurance providers to extend due dates for student loan and car payments and isn’t sure how he’s going to pay his cellphone bill this month.
“Amazon made it seem like they would take care of me, and they’re not doing that,” he said.
There are currently at least 70 Amazon facilities where an employee has tested positive for COVID-19, according to research by the Athena coalition, a group of organizations focused on issues related to Amazon. News reports say one warehouse in Staten Island may have as many as 25 positive diagnoses.
Meanwhile, customer orders have spiked at Amazon as retail stores have temporarily shuttered and people on lockdown are going online to order household goods and food. Amazon’s challenge is to keep up with these orders even as attendance rates on some shifts have fallen as low as 53%.
To entice people to come to work, the Missouri-based HR associate said management in her building is hosting raffles, offering free, prepackaged snacks, and sharing positive comments from customers. “We’re supposed to post them for the associates to see that what they're doing is needed and essential,” she said.
The company is also taking steps to make sure employees who may be contagious are sent home so they can’t infect coworkers. When employees test positive for COVID-19, Amazon uses a combination of video surveillance and its package-scanning system, which tracks workers’ movements throughout a warehouse, to determine which employees have come into “close contact” with infected workers and inform them of their exposure. Amazon said it asks those people to stay home and pays them for up to 14 days.
According to employee screening documents provided to Amazon HR staff on March 20 and reviewed by BuzzFeed News, Amazon employees who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever or a sore throat, are asked to go home and use vacation pay if they have it— but if an employee reports that a family member has tested positive for COVID-19, “the associate does not need to be sent home at this time.” HR managers should “encourage” employees to “remain at work as long as they are symptom-free.”
It was unclear whether this was still the policy. Amazon has said policies put in place three weeks ago may no longer be current, but it has not provided details.
Until this week, the CDC had recommended that workers exposed to the coronavirus stay home. But on Wednesday evening, the CDC issued an update on its safety guidelines for “critical infrastructure workers” who’ve been exposed to the coronavirus. This new guidance says that workers who’ve been exposed to someone with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 may continue reporting to work “provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.” Those precautions include temperature checks, 6 feet of social distancing, wearing a mask, and disinfecting “offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment routinely.”
Amazon instituted temperature checks last week and began distributing masks to warehouse employees this week. The company also said it’s experimenting with disinfectant fogging, spraying disinfectant to kill any virus that may be in the air. Amazon has said it’s working to enforce social distancing in its warehouses, but employees say the nature of the work, layout of the buildings, and number of workers on shift at a time make it difficult to stay 6 feet away from each other at all times.
At the Missouri facility, the company has also closed access to lockers and staggered shift start times to prevent workers from concentrating in crowded places. But the building runs 24 hours a day, and the cleaning crew only has an hour and a half in the afternoon to work without associates present. An HR employee there said she worries it’s not enough.
“It’s a pacifier,” she said. “It’s ‘Yes, we’re protecting you — but ... we’re not really doing anything.’ It’s meant to make you feel more comfortable so you can come to work.”
She said no one at her building so far has received quarantine pay, which she said is confusing given what Amazon has said publicly.
“It’s a lot of frustration for us as HR,” she said. “There's nothing we can do.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-16--Amazon Said That During The Pandemic, Sales Are Soaring. Workers Say They Feel Unsafe.

`` We are going to great lengths to keep the buildings extremely clean and help employees practice important precautions such as social distancing and other measures , '' the statement continued .
`` Those who don ’ t want to come to work are welcome to use paid and unpaid time off options and we support them in doing so.
” In an email statement sent after publication , a spokesperson for Amazon said `` the vast majority of our employees around the world continue to come to work and serve the people in their communities in a way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the doorsteps of people who need them . ''
Workers said they fear that the company isn ’ t doing enough to protect the spread of the virus within its hundreds of fulfillment centers , sortation centers , and delivery stations around the country .
By Monday evening , more than 1,500 Amazon employees had signed a petition that began circulating last Monday demanding time-and-a-half hazard pay , paid sick leave regardless of diagnosis , paid childcare , reprieve from productivity-based performance penalties , and the closure of any facility where an employee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand has prompted the online retailer to make plans to hire 100,000 additional warehouse employees , while raising wages by $ 2 per hour through the end of April , according to a memo revealed Monday .
But Amazon ’ s response has also , many workers say , created a potential internal public health crisis , even as it responds to the needs of untold numbers of customers who are now in self-quarantine to promote the greater public good .
As Americans retreat to their homes to weather the coronavirus pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get basic necessities such as groceries , as well as medicines , cleaning supplies , and , of course , toilet paper .
Coronavirus In The Workplace : BuzzFeed News looks at how companies and employees are handling the coronavirus pandemic .
Although hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are now available in facilities , some employees claim they are in short supply .
Protective masks are hard to come by , some say , and warehouses are not receiving any additional cleaning .
Others note that managers continue to insist on holding “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at every facility , despite vocal concerns from workers that the practice of squeezing dozens of employees into a small area together for 10 or 15 minutes at a time is dangerous , given how contagious the virus is .
“ Many of us feel like Amazon is being reckless with our health , ” said a man who works as a picker in an Amazon fulfillment center in Gloucester County , New Jersey , and requested anonymity for fear of reprisal .
“ This is a trillion-dollar company and you 're struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The risks are not limited to US facilities .
On Monday , Bloomberg reported that five warehouse workers in Amazon facilities in Spain and Italy have been diagnosed with COVID-19 , prompting some unionized workers in Italy to call for a strike .
Some workers in Europe have also been staying home to avoid infection — something that warehouse workers in the US say is also happening here .
Amazon last week said hourly workers in the US who feel sick could take unlimited unpaid time off , a change in policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
But many who are asymptomatic have begun taking advantage of that , staying home to avoid infection or to care for children whose schools have been closed .
The ensuing staffing shortages compounds the pressures on those who choose to remain at work , or can ’ t afford not to .
“ There ’ s only so much blood you can squeeze from a stone , ” said Marc Wulfraat , a transportation and logistics consultant .
“ These are the highest-populated warehouses in the US ; it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,500 people in one building.
” According to Amazon workers , staffing in some locations is down as much as half .
At the same time , demand has surged .
According to Guru Hariharan , CEO of CommerceIQ , which helps brands sell on Amazon , in the first two weeks of March , sales of many packaged goods , including cereal , aspirin , and batteries , have more than doubled compared to a year ago .
Sales for a specific 27-pack of 1,000-sheet toilet paper were up 944 % over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
In recent days , Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market have experienced glitches in delivery , and consumers in some regions have complained that orders are taking longer to deliver than normal .
In the face of the spiking demand , Amazon late last week notified employees that they would be obligated to work an overtime shift this week .
The company is also offering voluntary extra shifts to its employees .
Some are happy to get the extra money .
One Amazon employee in New Jersey who requested anonymity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money from their warehouse job even more now that their mom , who works in education , has been laid off without pay due to coronavirus concerns .
“ I do understand the pandemic , ” they said .
“ But I do n't think putting everyone out of work is the solution.
” To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus , Amazon has been conducting what it calls enhanced cleaning of its facilities , providing some hand sanitizer , and encouraging employees to wash their hands frequently .
In some regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of metal detectors ; employees of one Texas facility received a message saying that Amazon was “ temporarily discontinuing security checks as people exit our building to help maintain the recommended social distancing of approximately three feet.
” Some facilities are also , for the first time , allowing employees to bring cellphones onto the warehouse floor with them in case family members need to contact them in an emergency .
Last week , Amazon announced that any employee who contracts or is quarantined due to the coronavirus will receive up to two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plan to grant awards of between $ 400 and $ 5,000 to employees and contractors who are financially impacted by the pandemic .
Those individuals must apply for grants from the $ 25 million fund .
But two drivers who work for Amazon delivery contractors who reached out to BuzzFeed News said they ’ ve received no information about coronavirus precautions from their employers .
One driver who requested anonymity said their Georgia-based delivery company “ has not disseminated employee communications even acknowledging the Coronavirus , no staff meetings have been held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in place.
” “ In fact , ” they continued , “ the company sent out a notification … offering incentives for employees to work more .
”

Although hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are now available in facilities, some employees claim they are in short supply. Protective masks are hard to come by, some say, and warehouses are not receiving any additional cleaning. Others note that managers continue to insist on holding “stand-up” staff meetings before every shift at every facility, despite vocal concerns from workers that the practice of squeezing dozens of employees into a small area together for 10 or 15 minutes at a time is dangerous, given how contagious the virus is.
“Many of us feel like Amazon is being reckless with our health,” said a man who works as a picker in an Amazon fulfillment center in Gloucester County, New Jersey, and requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. “This is a trillion-dollar company and you're struggling to give us stuff to clean with.”
The risks are not limited to US facilities. On Monday, Bloomberg reported that five warehouse workers in Amazon facilities in Spain and Italy have been diagnosed with COVID-19, prompting some unionized workers in Italy to call for a strike.
Some workers in Europe have also been staying home to avoid infection — something that warehouse workers in the US say is also happening here. Amazon last week said hourly workers in the US who feel sick could take unlimited unpaid time off, a change in policy that normally sharply limits time away from work. But many who are asymptomatic have begun taking advantage of that, staying home to avoid infection or to care for children whose schools have been closed.
The ensuing staffing shortages compounds the pressures on those who choose to remain at work, or can’t afford not to.
“There’s only so much blood you can squeeze from a stone,” said Marc Wulfraat, a transportation and logistics consultant. “These are the highest-populated warehouses in the US; it’s not unusual to have between 1,500 and 2,500 people in one building.”
According to Amazon workers, staffing in some locations is down as much as half. At the same time, demand has surged. According to Guru Hariharan, CEO of CommerceIQ, which helps brands sell on Amazon, in the first two weeks of March, sales of many packaged goods, including cereal, aspirin, and batteries, have more than doubled compared to a year ago. Sales for a specific 27-pack of 1,000-sheet toilet paper were up 944% over the same period in 2019, he added.
In recent days, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market have experienced glitches in delivery, and consumers in some regions have complained that orders are taking longer to deliver than normal.
In the face of the spiking demand, Amazon late last week notified employees that they would be obligated to work an overtime shift this week. The company is also offering voluntary extra shifts to its employees.
Some are happy to get the extra money. One Amazon employee in New Jersey who requested anonymity to protect their employment said they need the money from their warehouse job even more now that their mom, who works in education, has been laid off without pay due to coronavirus concerns.
“I do understand the pandemic,” they said. “But I don't think putting everyone out of work is the solution.”
To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Amazon has been conducting what it calls enhanced cleaning of its facilities, providing some hand sanitizer, and encouraging employees to wash their hands frequently. In some regions, it has also suspended the use of metal detectors; employees of one Texas facility received a message saying that Amazon was “temporarily discontinuing security checks as people exit our building to help maintain the recommended social distancing of approximately three feet.”
Some facilities are also, for the first time, allowing employees to bring cellphones onto the warehouse floor with them in case family members need to contact them in an emergency.
Last week, Amazon announced that any employee who contracts or is quarantined due to the coronavirus will receive up to two weeks’ pay. It also announced a plan to grant awards of between $400 and $5,000 to employees and contractors who are financially impacted by the pandemic. Those individuals must apply for grants from the $25 million fund.
But two drivers who work for Amazon delivery contractors who reached out to BuzzFeed News said they’ve received no information about coronavirus precautions from their employers.
One driver who requested anonymity said their Georgia-based delivery company “has not disseminated employee communications even acknowledging the Coronavirus, no staff meetings have been held and no extra sanitary guidelines have been put in place.”
“In fact,” they continued, “the company sent out a notification … offering incentives for employees to work more.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-16--Looking To Donate Some Of Your Stimulus Check? Here’s How You Can Help Others During This Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting tens of thousands of people in profound ways , including loss of work and a lack of medical care and food supplies .
The outbreak has had a significant impact on the most vulnerable populations , including the elderly and children .
If you want to help out , here is a list of local , national , and international organizations that are working to ensure food , aid , and medical supplies are delivered to those who need it .
Feeding America : This organization helps feed communities and individuals facing hunger across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food banks .
Donate here .
No Kid Hungry : With coronavirus forcing mass school closures across the country , millions of children are losing the daily meals they depend on .
No Kid Hungry uses donations to send emergency grants to food banks and local community groups .
It diverts resources to feed kids in the hardest-hit communities .
The organization also has plans in place to ensure families know how to find food while schools are closed and making sure kids get three meals a day .
Donate here .
Meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the country ’ s elderly population .
Many of its local programs are struggling with the additional costs of delivering meals during the outbreak .
You can find ways to help a local program here or donate to the national organization here .
NYC organizations : You can donate to several New York City–based food relief organizations that are working to ensure meals are delivered to the city 's elderly population or those who are too sick to cook or shop for food .
Citymeals is taking donations to ensure “ every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need has nourishing meals during this dangerous outbreak.
” This GoFundMe is raising money on behalf of Food Bank for New York City , which will help adults and children in the city who are most affected by the outbreak .
God ’ s Love We Deliver , a nonsectarian organization that prepares and delivers `` nutritious and medically tailored meals '' to people living with illnesses , is looking for both volunteers as well as donations to sponsor their emergency meal bags of “ shelf-stable food ” to their clients .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , business , and government partners has started a COVID-19 Response Fund that will deploy resources to community-based organizations at the forefront of the coronavirus relief efforts in the Puget Sound region in Washington .
It will provide grants to fund organizations that are helping residents without health insurance or access to sick days , health care and gig economy workers , and communities of color .
It will help address the immediate needs of economically vulnerable populations affected by closures and cancellations .
Donate here .
The CDC Foundation : This nonprofit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help respond to the public health threat when federal and state funding is not available .
The foundation said it will use the funds to support state and local health departments in the US as well as support the global response including logistics , personal protective equipment , and critical response supplies .
Donate here .
The American Red Cross : As the number of coronavirus cases increases in the US , the number of people eligible to give blood and platelets for patients in need could decrease further , the Red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all eligible , healthy donors to donate blood and platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply flow and avoid potential shortages .
Make an appointment here .
Center for Disaster Philanthropy : This US-based organization is supporting local nonprofits in areas with a high number of affected individuals and vulnerable populations to help them support hourly wage earners , gig economy workers , immigrant populations , older adults , people with disabilities , and other communities vulnerable to the physical , mental , and economic impacts of the pandemic .
Donate here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started a general relief fund to directly support those affected by the pandemic and organizations working to keep people safe , find a cure , or support their communities .
GoFundMe will distribute donations made to this campaign and other verified campaigns and to aid such organizations .
Donate here .
Save the Children : This international organization is helping to protect vulnerable children and families by training health teams across the world on protection and prevention .
The organization is supplying personal protective equipment and other supplies to help health staffers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Donate here .
UNICEF : The United Nations Children 's Fund is sending supplies and support to save and protect vulnerable children affected by the coronavirus .
Donate here .
GlobalGiving : Donations to this US-based organization ’ s coronavirus relief fund will help local organizations in affected areas meet immediate needs for health care , food , and water and transition to longer-term education and recovery efforts .
Donate here .
There ’ s a lot we still don ’ t know about the coronavirus outbreak .
Our newsletter , Outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put everything we do know in one place — you can sign up here .
Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in touch .
And if you 're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand , we ’ d also love to hear from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels ) .

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting tens of thousands of people in profound ways, including loss of work and a lack of medical care and food supplies. The outbreak has had a significant impact on the most vulnerable populations, including the elderly and children.
If you want to help out, here is a list of local, national, and international organizations that are working to ensure food, aid, and medical supplies are delivered to those who need it.
Feeding America: This organization helps feed communities and individuals facing hunger across the United States through a nationwide network of food banks.
Donate here.
No Kid Hungry: With coronavirus forcing mass school closures across the country, millions of children are losing the daily meals they depend on. No Kid Hungry uses donations to send emergency grants to food banks and local community groups. It diverts resources to feed kids in the hardest-hit communities. The organization also has plans in place to ensure families know how to find food while schools are closed and making sure kids get three meals a day.
Donate here.
Meals on Wheels: This organization delivers meals to the country’s elderly population. Many of its local programs are struggling with the additional costs of delivering meals during the outbreak. You can find ways to help a local program here or donate to the national organization here.
NYC organizations: You can donate to several New York City–based food relief organizations that are working to ensure meals are delivered to the city's elderly population or those who are too sick to cook or shop for food. Citymeals is taking donations to ensure “every one of our homebound elderly neighbors in need has nourishing meals during this dangerous outbreak.” This GoFundMe is raising money on behalf of Food Bank for New York City, which will help adults and children in the city who are most affected by the outbreak. God’s Love We Deliver, a nonsectarian organization that prepares and delivers "nutritious and medically tailored meals" to people living with illnesses, is looking for both volunteers as well as donations to sponsor their emergency meal bags of “shelf-stable food” to their clients.
The Seattle Foundation: This coalition of philanthropic, business, and government partners has started a COVID-19 Response Fund that will deploy resources to community-based organizations at the forefront of the coronavirus relief efforts in the Puget Sound region in Washington. It will provide grants to fund organizations that are helping residents without health insurance or access to sick days, health care and gig economy workers, and communities of color. It will help address the immediate needs of economically vulnerable populations affected by closures and cancellations.
Donate here.
The CDC Foundation: This nonprofit organization for the CDC is raising funds to help respond to the public health threat when federal and state funding is not available. The foundation said it will use the funds to support state and local health departments in the US as well as support the global response including logistics, personal protective equipment, and critical response supplies.
Donate here.
The American Red Cross: As the number of coronavirus cases increases in the US, the number of people eligible to give blood and platelets for patients in need could decrease further, the Red Cross said. The organization is urging all eligible, healthy donors to donate blood and platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply flow and avoid potential shortages.
Make an appointment here.
Center for Disaster Philanthropy: This US-based organization is supporting local nonprofits in areas with a high number of affected individuals and vulnerable populations to help them support hourly wage earners, gig economy workers, immigrant populations, older adults, people with disabilities, and other communities vulnerable to the physical, mental, and economic impacts of the pandemic.
Donate here.
GoFundMe: This fundraising site has started a general relief fund to directly support those affected by the pandemic and organizations working to keep people safe, find a cure, or support their communities. GoFundMe will distribute donations made to this campaign and other verified campaigns and to aid such organizations.
Donate here.
Save the Children: This international organization is helping to protect vulnerable children and families by training health teams across the world on protection and prevention. The organization is supplying personal protective equipment and other supplies to help health staffers on the front lines of fighting the outbreaks.
Donate here.
UNICEF: The United Nations Children's Fund is sending supplies and support to save and protect vulnerable children affected by the coronavirus.
Donate here.
GlobalGiving: Donations to this US-based organization’s coronavirus relief fund will help local organizations in affected areas meet immediate needs for health care, food, and water and transition to longer-term education and recovery efforts.
Donate here.
There’s a lot we still don’t know about the coronavirus outbreak. Our newsletter, Outbreak Today, will do its best to put everything we do know in one place — you can sign up here. Do you have questions you want answered? You can always get in touch. And if you're someone who is seeing the impact of this firsthand, we’d also love to hear from you (you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels).


buzzfeednews--2020-03-16--Hong Kong Has Largely Survived COVID-19. Can New York — And The US — Do It Too?

I was living in Hong Kong when the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed in the city on Jan. 23 .
The same week , China shut down the city of Wuhan .
Life changed — and quickly .
Hong Kong ’ s 7.5 million residents live in some of the densest neighborhoods in the world .
Almost immediately , the number of people on the street and on public transportation dwindled , as people kept themselves at home to avoid exposure .
Within days , the government directed civil servants to work from home , and private employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been through something like this before .
In 2003 , SARS had killed hundreds in the city , and the memory remains fresh in the minds of many .
People understood their responsibility to keep themselves and others safe .
Sanitizer , rubbing alcohol , and face masks flew off the shelves .
Other countries advised residents to wear a mask only when sick , but it became impolite not to wear one in Hong Kong .
Even smokers did their part , poking holes at the mouth for cigarettes so they could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s narrow alleyways .
Each story about a new case in Hong Kong sparked retweets and texts to friends .
There was the family of nine sharing hot pot who all caught the disease and then it seemed to have spread through the pipes of a building when two residents living on different floors caught it .
Back then there was less information about how it was spreading and how infectious it was .
The first death in Hong Kong came in early February : a man who had traveled to Wuhan had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late January .
Major events started falling .
The Hong Kong marathon was canceled ; schools , parks , and museums were closed ; and concerts and festivals were postponed .
Even Disneyland closed and offered up its land for quarantine sites .
It wasn ’ t just big events that were canceled .
Small things changed too .
Elevator buttons were covered in plastic and more frequently sanitized .
Shop owners diligently scrubbed the handles of their entrances .
Friends canceled dinners and parties .
Restaurants and coffee shops were emptier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good .
“ No fun stuff in Hong Kong anymore ” was the refrain in my group chats .
The emptiness of the city and all the cancelations felt apocalyptic at first .
Everything seemed to be over .
The first time I had a temperature gun pointed at me , I prickled .
It ’ s invasive to have something pointed directly at your forehead , and then there ’ s the twinge of fear that maybe you won ’ t pass the test .
But then it became routine — walking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mailing a package at the post office , meeting up with friends at a bar .
WeWork and social clubs temperature-checked people , too .
After a while , seeing people in masks and the temperature checks and the large dispensers of hand sanitizer everywhere started to feel like a comfort — everyone wanted to keep each other safe .
The response in Hong Kong wasn ’ t perfect .
After months of violent protests in the city , the spread of COVID-19 compounded a lot of the anger that residents already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beholden to Beijing .
Health care workers went on strike , demanding the semiautonomous region close its borders with China .
Others wanted government measures to stop price gouging on masks .
Rumors of toilet paper production delays in China led to runs on supplies and long lines when they were available .
But more than a month after the first case , the number of cases in Hong Kong has remained low while they have skyrocketed in other countries .
There ’ s been fewer than 150 cases and four deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence shows that the social distance measures in Hong Kong effectively ended the flu season , too .
As I got ready to return to the United States in early March , New York was still largely unaffected even though the United States had confirmed its first case , in Washington state , on Jan. 21 — two days before Hong Kong had theirs .
New York got its first case a couple days before I flew back .
When I landed in JFK on March 3 , though , I was surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked about symptoms or if I had had contact with anyone who had been infected .
Even basic measures didn ’ t seem to be in place .
An officer glanced at my passport , asked if I had traveled anywhere else and then waved me through customs .
When I got to the building where I was staying , a clerk asked me if I was sick or just paranoid when he spotted the paper mask under my chin that I had worn on the flight .
Many people seemed indifferent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the globe and that had been making headlines for months .
I ’ ve been back in New York for a week and a half — in that time , I ’ ve watched a swift transformation as the state declared an emergency , a containment zone was created in New Rochelle , Broadway has gone dark , and schools have now shuttered .
New York City alone has gone from having its first case to hundreds of cases .
And amid widespread complaints about access to testing , the real number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

I was living in Hong Kong when the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed in the city on Jan. 23. The same week, China shut down the city of Wuhan.
Life changed — and quickly. Hong Kong’s 7.5 million residents live in some of the densest neighborhoods in the world. Almost immediately, the number of people on the street and on public transportation dwindled, as people kept themselves at home to avoid exposure. Within days, the government directed civil servants to work from home, and private employers largely followed suit.
Hong Kong had been through something like this before. In 2003, SARS had killed hundreds in the city, and the memory remains fresh in the minds of many. People understood their responsibility to keep themselves and others safe. Sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, and face masks flew off the shelves. Other countries advised residents to wear a mask only when sick, but it became impolite not to wear one in Hong Kong. Even smokers did their part, poking holes at the mouth for cigarettes so they could continue to smoke in Hong Kong’s narrow alleyways.
Each story about a new case in Hong Kong sparked retweets and texts to friends. There was the family of nine sharing hot pot who all caught the disease and then it seemed to have spread through the pipes of a building when two residents living on different floors caught it. Back then there was less information about how it was spreading and how infectious it was. The first death in Hong Kong came in early February: a man who had traveled to Wuhan had crossed the border back into Hong Kong in late January.
Major events started falling. The Hong Kong marathon was canceled; schools, parks, and museums were closed; and concerts and festivals were postponed. Even Disneyland closed and offered up its land for quarantine sites.
It wasn’t just big events that were canceled. Small things changed too. Elevator buttons were covered in plastic and more frequently sanitized. Shop owners diligently scrubbed the handles of their entrances. Friends canceled dinners and parties. Restaurants and coffee shops were emptier, and some of them closed for good. “No fun stuff in Hong Kong anymore” was the refrain in my group chats.
The emptiness of the city and all the cancelations felt apocalyptic at first. Everything seemed to be over. The first time I had a temperature gun pointed at me, I prickled. It’s invasive to have something pointed directly at your forehead, and then there’s the twinge of fear that maybe you won’t pass the test. But then it became routine — walking into the building where a friend lived, mailing a package at the post office, meeting up with friends at a bar. WeWork and social clubs temperature-checked people, too. After a while, seeing people in masks and the temperature checks and the large dispensers of hand sanitizer everywhere started to feel like a comfort — everyone wanted to keep each other safe.
The response in Hong Kong wasn’t perfect. After months of violent protests in the city, the spread of COVID-19 compounded a lot of the anger that residents already felt toward their government for being too beholden to Beijing. Health care workers went on strike, demanding the semiautonomous region close its borders with China. Others wanted government measures to stop price gouging on masks. Rumors of toilet paper production delays in China led to runs on supplies and long lines when they were available.
But more than a month after the first case, the number of cases in Hong Kong has remained low while they have skyrocketed in other countries. There’s been fewer than 150 cases and four deaths in the city so far. More recent evidence shows that the social distance measures in Hong Kong effectively ended the flu season, too.
As I got ready to return to the United States in early March, New York was still largely unaffected even though the United States had confirmed its first case, in Washington state, on Jan. 21 — two days before Hong Kong had theirs. New York got its first case a couple days before I flew back.
When I landed in JFK on March 3, though, I was surprised when no one took my temperature nor asked about symptoms or if I had had contact with anyone who had been infected. Even basic measures didn’t seem to be in place. An officer glanced at my passport, asked if I had traveled anywhere else and then waved me through customs. When I got to the building where I was staying, a clerk asked me if I was sick or just paranoid when he spotted the paper mask under my chin that I had worn on the flight. Many people seemed indifferent to an epidemic that was already wreaking havoc across the globe and that had been making headlines for months.
I’ve been back in New York for a week and a half — in that time, I’ve watched a swift transformation as the state declared an emergency, a containment zone was created in New Rochelle, Broadway has gone dark, and schools have now shuttered. New York City alone has gone from having its first case to hundreds of cases. And amid widespread complaints about access to testing, the real number of cases is almost certainly much higher.