Prime Now Sees Day Waits In NYC Amid Coronavirus Panic Shopping

NEW YORK CITY — Amazon's same-day grocery delivery service stalled up to 24-hour Sunday and Monday as news broke that New York City had its first confirmed case of novel coronavirus.

A notice at the top of the Prime Now website Monday afternoon told customers not to expect the usual service.

"Please note that at this time delivery availability may be limited," the black and white notice reads.

Amazon's press office did not respond to Patch's request for more information about how long and where the company was experiencing increased wait times.

Patch's attempts to order groceries in Brooklyn Sunday and Monday were met with 24-hour waits and Manhattan and Bronx orders placed Monday afternoon saw 20-hour waits.

Service in Staten Island, the limited Queens areas with Amazon Prime appeared normal.

The Prime Now delay came with reports that "panic shopping" was leading to shortages of hand sanitizers, face masks, water, rice and other bulk supplies in grocery stores and pharmacies across New York City.

Twitter users in New York City and Paris linked the delay to coronavirus.

The second notice reads, roughly, "No longer possible to place an order with Prime Now, Parisians are preparing themselves for war."

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 — a 39-year-old woman who returned to her Manhattan home Tuesday from a trip to Iran — was reported Sunday.

New York Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot encouraged New Yorkers not to break with their daily routine but to be more rigorous about washing their hands and covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze.