December 20, 2020 updated December 21 with statement from Amazon, updated again with daylight photos and statement from Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Sources told MidJersey.News that Amazon Warehouse, PNE5 that is a Sort Center at 18 Applegate Drive was closed for an increase of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. Passing by the warehouse this evening (12/20) it appears that security has been posted at both entrances and the warehouse has a minimal crew on location compared to normal. The warehouse will be closed out an abundance of cation until December 26 sources said.
In an e-mail received this morning Lisa Levandowski, Amazon spokesperson told MidJersey.news: “Through our in-house COVID-19 testing program, we detected an increase in the number of asymptomatic positive cases at our PNE5 facility in northern New Jersey and have proactively closed the site until December 26th out of an abundance of caution. This is exactly why we built the program—to identify asymptomatic cases and ensure that we can take swift action to prevent spread. All employees will be paid for the shifts that they’ll miss.”
“The pandemic will continue making the rules until the vaccines are available to everyone. We rely not only on our front line workers, but also those at Amazon and other distribution centers who have been packing, sorting and safely delivering us the goods we use every day. The supply chain is incredibly important, and we will continue working with all of our partners in the private sector to keep people as safe as possible. We wish all of those workers impacted a very speedy recovery.” –Statement from Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried
Sort Centers take individual packages from fulfillment centers and route them to individual post offices to speed up the process of delivery. Sort Centers reportedly make Sunday delivery possible by USPS and speed shipments during the rest of the week.
The New York Post , Reuters and CNBC have also reported on the subject.
Amazon PNE5 as seen on December 20, 2020 a small crew appeared to be getting ready to close the warehouse. Security was at both entrances.
Amazon Sort Center on Applegate Drive December 21, 2020. Parking lot was empty this morning and security standing by in their cars next to barricades at the entrances. The west entrance was barricaded not to allow entry. The east entrance had security with barricades and a closed fence.