Amazon will stop the shipment of some items because of coronavirus, company says
As the coronavirus continues to spread, Amazon said it will no longer process some nonessential items and instead prioritize high-demand “household staples” and medical supplies.
The company said it it won’t receive shipments of many products at its fulfillment centers until April 5, which means online shoppers will likely have to wait longer to get clothing, housewares and many other items.
The change will allow Amazon to focus on shipping baby products, health and personal care products, groceries and pet items, the company said.
Shipments created before March 17 and those already on the way will still be received, Amazon said.
Online buying has increased amid the spread of coronavirus, leaving some items unavailable. On Saturday, Amazon said household items were out of stock and that some delivery times would be delayed, McClatchy News reported.
“We are working around the clock with our selling partners to ensure availability on these essential products, and continue to bring on additional capacity to deliver your orders,” the company said in its blog.
Amazon said Monday it’s hiring 100,000 people in fulfillment centers to help meet demand.
The company says it’s taking “recommended precautions” to keep workers healthy amid the pandemic.
“We’ve taken measures to promote social distancing in the workplace and taken on enhanced and frequent cleaning, to name just a few,” Amazon said.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Amazon will stop the shipment of some items because of coronavirus, company says."
