With many cities passing shelter-in-place orders and most regions encouraging people to practice social distancing due to the global pandemic of coronavirus, officially called COVID-19,grocery delivery serviceshave exploded in popularity as people seek to avoid going to busy supermarkets. But services are struggling to keep up with demand. Now, even the massive Amazon delivery service is no longer accepting new customers for the time being.
Amazon owns the Whole Foods supermarket chain, which offers both deliveries and pickup services. The company says it is increasing the number of Whole Foods stores which offer grocery pickup from 80 locations to 150 locations, which should help ease some demand while keeping contact between customers to a minimum. It will also reduce the opening hours at some stores, so staff can focus on fulfilling delivery orders rather than working in store.
Amazon has had issues fulfilling demand for non-grocery deliveries as well, withshipment delayson non-essential goods. The company said it has changed its logistics, transportation, supply chain, purchasing, and third-party seller processes so it can focus on fulfilling the most high priority items like personal care, baby, pet, and grocery products. These delays are more apparent in some areas than others, with delivery times varying across the country.
The recent crisis has also focused attention onAmazon’s labor practices. Aftersome employees tested positive for COVID-19at its warehouses, workers complained that Amazon was not doing enough to protect them from infection, by requiring “stand-up meetings” in which workers had to stand closer to each other than the six feet recommended by medical experts, and by not allowing them enough time to properly wash their hands and maintain hygiene. U.S. senators including Bernie Sanders havecalled on Amazon to do moreto protect its workers.
