Amazon Pauses Plans for Prime Day in Canada Due to Covid-19

(Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. is pausing plans for its annual sale Prime Day in Canada due to concerns about Covid-19, according to an email to Amazon merchants reviewed by Bloomberg. The pause won’t affect Prime Day in the U.S., which is scheduled for an undisclosed day in June, the email said.

“Based on the increasing impact of Covid-19 in Canada, and the importance we place on protecting the health and safety of our employees and customers, we will pause plans for Prime Day 2021 in Canada,” said the email, sent to Amazon sellers Thursday.

Covid-19 cases have risen in Canada in recent months amid a slower-than-expected rollout of vaccinations. Less than 3% of the population is fully vaccinated, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker, and Ontario, the largest province, has been under an emergency stay-at-home order for weeks.

Amazon, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment.

The Seattle-based company had to postpone its annual sale worldwide last year due to the pandemic. The event is a way to drum up sales during the summer and attract and retain new Prime subscribers, who pay monthly or annual fees for delivery discounts and other services like video streaming.

Read more: Canada’s Vaccine Push Plagued by Confusion, Erratic Supply

(Updated with company comment.)

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