Amazon has stopped the sale of N95 masks to the public and said that it will only sell the items to government agencies and hospitals amid the CCP virus pandemic.
The Seattle-based retailer said it rolled out a new website section that is dedicated to supplies used in the fight against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, a coronavirus that causes COVID-19. A U.S.-accredited hospital, state agency, or federal agency can order masks, facial shields, gowns, gloves, and sanitizers.
An Amazon spokesperson told the news outlet that the move is designed to ensure that the scarce number of medical supplies is reserved for hospitals and government agencies.
The general public will also not be able to buy COVID-19 diagnostic kits, according to a spokesman for the firm.
Wipes and relatively small-volume sanitizers will be still sold to the public, the chain also said.
In a notice to seller posted on its website, Amazon said it looking for sellers to supply medical products.
It added: “For ASINs subject to this change, we have eliminated our standard referral fees through June 30, 2020, to encourage our selling partners to make additional inventory of these products available at competitive prices to these customers with the greatest need.”