AKIPRESS.COM - Amazon said that more than 19,816 of its frontline workers in the US have contracted Covid-19 since March, BBC reports. 

The number equates to 1.44% of its 1.37 million workers across Amazon and its subsidiary Whole Foods.

Amazon had faced criticism from employees, unions and elected officials, who have accused the company of putting employees' health at risk.

But the online retailing giant said its infection rate is lower than expected.

Amazon has kept its facilities open throughout the pandemic to meet a surge in demand from shoppers stuck at home.

Staying open has proven very lucrative for the e-commerce firm, and has added to the wealth of founder Jeff Bezos, who is the world's richest man.

The tech giant's sales soared 40% to $88.9bn (£67.9bn) in the three months ending in June, and its quarterly profit of $5.2bn (£4bn) was its biggest since the company started in 1994.