Amazon warehouse worker tests positive amid virus outbreak

An Amazon warehouse worker has tested positive for coronavirus after a cluster was identified in Inverclyde.

Eight cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the area, which have been connected to a number of workplaces.

An Amazon facility in Gourock has emerged as one of those sites, as a link to M&D Pharmacy in Port Glasgow was established.

The retail company said it was supporting the individual, who was in quarantine, and was working closely with health authorities.

Amazon also said it had introduced measures to protect employees.

A company spokesman said: “Since the early days of this situation, we have worked closely with health authorities to proactively respond, ensuring we continue to serve communities while taking care of our associates and we’re following guidelines from health officials about the operations of our buildings.

“We have implemented proactive measures to protect employees including increased cleaning at all facilities and maintaining social distance.”

Work is currently under way to contract trace those connected to the cluster.

Professor Jason Leitch, Scotland’s national clinical director, said that process will continue on Thursday.

“There are eight linked cases in this cluster presently,” he told BBC Radio Scotland. “And a number of contacts. They are being contact traced. They were contact traced all day yesterday, there will be more of that today.

“There are a number of workplaces involved, including a pharmacy, and you’ve seen overnight that Amazon have confirmed that one of their warehouses in Gourock has a connection to one of those cases.

“We’ve of course, as you would expect, been in touch with those workplaces and a number of other locations to make sure that everything that can be done is being done.”

However, Professor Leitch said it was too early to say whether cluster could be connected to a recent outbreak at the Sitel call centre in Bellshill.