The coronavirus that has killed thousands around the world has also started putting pressure on international companies such as Etsy, Amazon, Alibaba, and Google.
Etsy Begins Widespread Crackdown on CoVID-19 Listings
According to BuzzFeed News, Etsy announced on Wednesday that it has already taken down hundreds of listings on the retail site in a bid to reduce the ongoing stigma around the coronavirus crisis.
A spokesperson for the company said the team is prioritizing the take-down of listings "that claim to protect against coronavirus." Furthermore, the company said it will also keep watching out for products that "attempt to exploit the developing coronavirus situation."
For some merchants operating Etsy stores, the move may be some form of a discrimination against CoVID-19 items that are made for educational purposes. On the other hand, the e-commerce site said it will prioritize keeping its marketplace "safe" for sellers and buyers alike.
Amazon Prime Now Shoppers Experience Delays
Amazon usually delivers same-day delivery orders on time but ever since the coronavirus outbreak kicked off in the United States, some regions have experienced delays.
Amazon Prime Now shoppers revealed that delays have been common over the past few days. In some cases, shoppers are informed that they can only place orders the next day, CNBC reported.
The company has been notifying shoppers of limited delivery availability in some U.S. states including Seattle, Chicago, and New York City. The notifications started emerging online and the Amazon Prime Now website since earlier this week.
Industry experts noted that the delay may have been impacted largely by an unexpected spike in online orders as more people try to stay at home due to coronavirus fears.
Amazon Confirms Employee Infection
On Tuesday, the U.S. e-commerce giant confirmed that an employee in Seattle contracted the CoVID-19 virus. The company said it is "supporting" the said worker who was put in quarantine following the positive test results.
In a bid to prevent further infections, the company notified other employees who have had direct contact with the employee and it also ordered workers to avoid traveling if not necessary.
Alibaba Warns of Delivery Delays
Alibaba's AliExpress has also warned shoppers beforehand that there will be delays in delivering various orders following the spike in CoVID-19 cases outside China, particularly in the U.S. and in Italy.
According to Reuters, the company took to social media on Tuesday to warn shoppers that logistics and shipping processes are "experiencing longer waiting times."
AliExpress is recognized worldwide as one of the top shopping apps and is owned by Jack Ma-founded Chinese online retail giant Alibaba and it is just among the other delivery services that continues to experience delays due to the coronavirus situation.
Facebook Confirms Seattle Employee Infection
Meanwhile, Facebook announced on Wednesday that one of its workers at the Seattle office tested positive of the coronavirus. According to FOX News, the social media giant has informed employees about the employee's condition.
As part of the efforts to prevent further CoVID-19 infections across company premises, the Stadium East Office, where the said employee was last seen, will be closed until Monday next week.
Microsoft Allows Some Employees to Telecommute
Microsoft has joined the list of companies urging Seattle employees to work from home if they are not required to be at the office for crucial workload or meetings.
The news came amid reports that some of the tech giant's workers raised concerns on the company's response to the CoVID-19 outbreak in the area. Microsoft has since started urging employees to telecommute until March 9.
Seattle is considered to be the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
Google's Ghost Dublin Office
Meanwhile in Europe, Google's Dublin office was mostly empty on Tuesday, following the company's request for employees to avoid going to the Grand Canal Dock in the Irish capital.
According to The Guardian, it remains unclear when employees will start returning to work as they were encouraged to work from home amid Europe's CoVID-19 crisis.
An employee developed flu-like symptoms on Monday but it was not believed at that time to be the novel coronavirus. Still, Google Dublin managers urged workers to telecommute as the CoVID-19 situation in the country ensues.
