I really don't understand why Amazon is getting a spike of demand.
What are people ordering now that they didn't usually order? I don't think stuff like facemasks and gloves can justify the huge difference in volumes, and amazon isn't providing the supplies for emergency rooms and hospitals (is it?).
Amazon sells basically everything. Paper towels and toilet paper are in short supply, non-perishable food items, cooking supplies, items for working at home, diapers, toys and other items for quarantined kids, extra vitamins and supplements that could run out, pet food and supplies, etc. Like everywhere, some art shifting in person shopping to delivery, and many are hoarding, both of which have a big effect.
Anecdote: I've got a daughter who is stuck at home since schools are closed. I've been trying to think of ways to entertain her. Some of these involve purchasing products.
> What are people ordering now that they didn't usually order?
When the grocery stores ran out of tp, people started ordering from Amazon. When Amazon ran out of 2-day-delivery tp, people started ordering bidets.
People who suddenly WFH are now ordering extra supplies to do so (webcams, ethernet cables, whiteboards, privacy screens, headphones, etc). People with children out of school are ordering extra books, crafts, boardgames, videogames, etc. People SIP are now turning to Amazon for groceries and daily supplies. (Yes, grocery stores are open, but many don't want to go out if it can be at all avoided.)
In short, almost everyone who thinks of buying from Amazon is ordering something they don't usually order and/or ordering the normal items more frequently.
Many people are ordering online not because they desperately want to avoid the virus, but simply because shops in their area are closed. Many younger and healty people, looking at coronavirus mortality rates, would have no qualms about shopping in a physical location right now if the only risk would be coming down with relatively mild cold symptoms, but the authorities are shutting those physical locations so that the virus can't spread and affect those demographics that would be concerned.
What are people ordering now that they didn't usually order? I don't think stuff like facemasks and gloves can justify the huge difference in volumes, and amazon isn't providing the supplies for emergency rooms and hospitals (is it?).