Amazon warehouse hit by Covid outbreak with at least six delivery drivers testing positive

An Amazon warehouse has been hit by a Covid outbreak with at least six delivery drivers testing positive.

At least two dozen other staff members at the Bathgate, West Lothian, site have been told to self isolate as a result of the confirmed infections.

The outbreak is understood to have started at a small office that is used by more than 30 contractors, with two people initially testing positive on Monday and Tuesday last week.

Another four Covid cases were then confirmed between Friday and Sunday, reports EdinburghLive.

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A source told The Scotsman workers had been previously concerned about the size of the room they were working in and the continual use of air conditioning.

However, the insider added Amazon UK had otherwise been “really good” at implementing social distancing rules.

A spokesperson for Amazon said: “We are supporting the individuals who are now in quarantine.

“Since the early days of this situation, we have worked closely with local authorities to proactively respond, ensuring we continue to serve customers while taking care of our associates and we’re following all guidelines from local officials about the operations of our buildings.

“We have implemented proactive measures at our facilities to protect associates including increased cleaning at all facilities, maintaining social distance in our sites, and adding distance between drivers and customers when making deliveries.”

They added that the workers caught Covid despite perspex screens in place to separate stations at the office, as well as strict rules on face masks.

In October last year, a total of 10 members of staff at an Amazon warehouse in Coventry tested positive after a union warned there could be a “hive of infection”.

The outbreak was confirmed following the company’s Prime Day event, which offers customers big discounts on products.

The global firm had carried out its own testing at the facility on Lyons Park, and the 10 staff members, who had all been asymptomatic, were told to self-isolate, CoventryLive reported at the time.