Amazon has temporarily stopped taking orders on non essential products on it’s Italian and French sites. This in an effort to stop the spread and contain the novel coronavirus.

“As customers use e-commerce to support their social distancing efforts, we too have implemented social distancing guidance within our fulfillment centers to keep our employees safe and healthy,” An email from an Amazon spokesperson to The Verge 

While customers can still order many of the products from 3rd party sellers who are able to shop directly to customers. Essential products include food and hygiene items. Amazon have said that the measure will allow “fulfillment center associates to focus on receiving and shipping the products customers need most at this time.”

Furthermore a notice on Amazon read:

“We are prioritizing the most requested products and some items may be temporarily unavailable. We appreciate your understanding at this time when we prioritize the products that customers need most. All orders already confirmed will be delivered regularly.”

While 5 workers have tested positive at Amazon Warehouses in Europe for coronavirus Bloomberg reported. Workers at an Amazon Warehouse in Italy went on strike on March 17th to protest inadequate action by the company to protect them.

Italy has become one of the hardest areas hit by COVID-19. As more than 53K people infected and 48K dead according to the New York Times. With Saturday alone, reporting 793 new deaths in one day, reported by the Times.

(The Verge)

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