Amazon Lifts Mask Mandate for Vaccinated Employees

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce company, announced on the 19th (local time) that it will no longer require mask-wearing for warehouse workers who have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations, CNBC reported.

Accordingly, employees who have completed their vaccinations do not have to wear masks inside the warehouse unless mandated by individual state or city governments.

Amazon stated that employees are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their final vaccine dose.

Workers must carry a copy of their vaccination certificate as proof.

To verify actual vaccination status, Amazon requires employees to enter their vaccination records into an internal employee portal. A green check mark will then appear on their smartphone screen, which they can present as proof upon arrival at work.

Amazon plans to have employees upload photos of their vaccination cards to the internal portal by mid-next month.

Additionally, Amazon said that other measures such as hand sanitizer use and social distancing will remain unchanged, aside from the mask-wearing policy.

On the same day, supermarket chain Kroger also announced that vaccinated employees and customers no longer need to wear masks in stores, warehouses, factories, and offices, CNN reported.

However, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, those working in pharmacies and clinics within Kroger stores must continue to wear masks.

Previously, chain stores such as Starbucks, Costco, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and CVS had also relaxed mask mandates.