Amazon ending COVID-19 testing at warehouses

Amazon is ending its coronavirus testing at warehouses at the end of July.

An internal memo sent to employees on Monday said Amazon will end its testing program at its warehouses on July 30. The news was first reported by tech publication The Information.

Amazon says the testing program could resume immediately depending on local and national guidance. 

In the memo, the company cited the broader availability of testing and the fact employees “have many options available to them, including through health providers and public testing sites” for the reason to end the program.

When Amazon began the program early during the pandemic, testing was not free or widely available for the public.

The move by Amazon comes as coronavirus cases are increasing across the U.S. due to the delta variant and vaccinations have slowed.

Amazon warehouses at points during the pandemic became hotbeds for coronavirus cases with almost 20,000 employees contracting COVID-19 by October of last year. 

The company also moved to launch vaccine sites at their warehouses this past March to help workers get the vaccine. 

Amazon saw a huge financial boost during the pandemic, as many moved to online shopping in order to avoid going out during lockdowns.