Amazon site in Brampton, Ont., must close and all employees self-isolate, health officials order

An Amazon Canada facility in Brampton, Ont., has been effectively shut down and all employees ordered to self-isolate for two weeks amid an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19.

"Just in the last few weeks, we've seen an acceleration of the transmission," saidDr. Lawrence Loh, themedical officer of healthfor Peel Region, of the site whichemploys thousands of people andhas been detectingcases since October.

There have been more than 600 cases in total,with 240 identified in recent weeks, Loh told CBC News, reflecting "significant" growth.

High-risk exposure for everyoneworking at the8050 Heritage Rd. site can't be ruled out, according to a media release from Peel on Friday.

The Toronto-area facility is in a "vulnerable community," according to Loh, who said having it shut it down was a difficult but necessary decision to protect essential workers and the surrounding community.

A spokesperson said Amazon will appeal the decision.

"We do not believe the data supports this closure,"spokesperson Dave Bauer said.

Effective Saturday

Broadly, the orderrequires everyone at the facilityto self-isolate for two weeks, effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

It alsoallows Amazon Canada time to consider additional operational changes recommended by Peel Public Health that may help prevent outbreaks in future, officials explained.

Loh says the company has been making strides toward putting in more space for distancingand personal protective equipment.

Bauer said Amazon is "doingeverything we can to support [employees] and keep them safe through the pandemic."

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Workplaces major driver of COVID-19 outbreaks in Peel Region

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Ontarios Peel Region, just west of Toronto, has long been a hotspot for COVID-19, but the high number of warehouses and transportation facilities may be partly to blame.

"Nothing's more important than the health and safety of our employees and the communities we serve," he said.

"We just completed our most recent round of mandatory testing with less than a one per centpositivityrate,andthere appearsto belittleriskof spread within our facility."

He said the closure may have a short-term effect on Canadian customers but the company would workto recover quickly.

Amazon outlined various safety measures it hastaken at the Brampton facility, including testing all employees twice in the past three weeks, hiring private buses to transport employees, providing sick pay for up to 14 days for employees self-isolating and investing $17 million in COVID-19 safety measures and equipment.

The company also plans to pay all the employees for the time they spend inquarantine.