Over a dozen angry employees walked off the job while police officers restored order at EZ-PASS in Newark after company officials reported that two associates tested positive for the coronavirus.
Employees said the McCarter Highway Newark building has become a "breeding ground" for the coronavirus pandemic after management failed to provide safe working conditions for hundreds of workers who are ordered to come to work during the epidemic daily.
Shortly before 4 p.m., several police units were called to the building to investigate reports of a disturbance related to a coronavirus patient.
Police officers arrived and immediately declared the situation under control after employees began to exit the building.
According to a letter released by company officials today, proper sanitation and sterilization were underway after they confirmed that two employees tested positive for the deadly disease.
"Our focus remains to be the health and well-being of our associates while we minimize the spread of the virus," a company official wrote in a letter to employees.
Officials said extra sanitation crews were higher to assist in cleaning the building and wiping down handrails, doorknobs, and desks throughout the building.
"This is a constantly evolving situation that leadership is actively monitoring. Please do your part in keeping a safe distance from employees, washing your hands and use sanitizer when possible," company officials said.
Working at home is being enforced wherever is possible and work schedules are being monitored and adjusted based on work volume and associate availability officials said.
Several employees said the company's response is "too little too late. "There is virtually no way we can practice social distancing of six feet inside the building," several employees said.
In a video briefing today, The Honorable Newark Mayor Ras Baraka warned businesses that remained open during the crisis to create safe workspaces that include social distancing and provide proper safety gear to employees or risk being shut down beginning Tuesday.
"We will be checking all businesses for safety and workplaces that are not in clear compliance COVID-19 safety rules will be told to close and not allowed to open back up," Mayor Baraka said.
The mayor introduced to his viewers a joint endeavor with East Orange, Orange and Irvington, who will assist in border patrol to place the Essex County cities on enforced lockdown begin Tuesday.
'Anyone caught violating the curfew will be ticketed/fined as a first infraction then forwarded to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office if they are found on the streets nonessential a second time.