An Amazon worker inside a warehouse during coronavirus pandemic
Amazon said Wednesday it will soon stop requiring face masks for fully vaccinated workers inside warehouses, except when required by law.
Starting on Monday, fully vaccinated operations employees in the U.S. will no longer be required to wear a face covering at work unless mandated by state or local regulations, according to a notice Amazon sent to workers that was obtained by CNBC.
Amazon said in the notice that it considers workers to be fully vaccinated once it has been 14 or more days since their final vaccine dose. Workers must also have a copy of their vaccine card, the company said.
“A HUGE thank you to everyone who has and continues to prioritize our Covid-19 safety measures,” the company said in the notice to workers. “The last 14 months have not always been easy, but your dedication continues to be appreciated by leaders and customers across the country. We cannot wait to see your smile.”
All other Covid-19 safety protocols will remain the same, Amazon said. Last March, Amazon began taking certain safety precautions inside warehouses, such as instructing employees to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer and practice social distancing.
Amazon joins a growing list of retailers and restaurants that have eased mask requirements since the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this month that fully vaccinated people don’t have to cover their faces indoors anymore. Costco, Walmart, Chipotle, Target and Starbucks are among several companies that have updated their mask requirements. Home Depot, Gap and Ulta Beauty are among those that said they would maintain their safety precautions for the time being.
