Three employees at Blue Origin’s Kent headquarters have tested positive for COVID-19.
The aerospace company, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, confirmed the cases in an email Tuesday to the Kent Reporter. Aerospace companies are considered essential under the stay-at-home order by Gov. Jay Inslee. Blue Origin employs more than 3,000 in Kent.
“We can confirm three employees have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus,” said a Blue Origin spokesperson. “All three work at Blue Origin’s Kent headquarters.”
The company opened its 236,000-square-foot new headquarters in January along 76th Avenue South between South 212th Street and South 228th Street. Blue Origin aims to one day carry passengers far into space to work and live.
Blue Origin will keep a close watch on the three employees.
“Blue Origin’s Human Resources team will remain in close communication with these employees throughout their recovery period to make sure they are getting the care and support they need from us while they quarantine, recover and seek medical care,” according to the company. “We have also notified those employees who were in contact with them and have directed them to stay at home for the next 14 days to self-quarantine, and have deep cleaned the areas they visited.”
Blue Origin said it is taking steps to keep employees safe.
“The health and safety of these individuals—and the Blue Origin team—is our first priority and main concern,” according to the company. “We are following all CDC guidelines at all of our facilities, and have implemented additional procedures to ensure the ongoing safety of our employees.”
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