An Amazon spokesperson said the company was "perplexed" by the court ruling | Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images Amazon threatens to suspend deliveries in France after court order

Amazon is considering temporarily closing down its French warehouses, a spokesperson said on Wednesday following a court ruling on April 14 that limited its activities over health and safety concerns.

The court in Nanterre ordered Amazon to restrict its business to essential items such as food and medical supplies until a risk assessment of the company’s health and safety measures has been carried out. The court found that Amazon had neglected to protect its employees from the coronavirus.

An Amazon spokesperson said the company was "perplexed" by the court ruling, and the company is expecting to appeal the decision.

"Our interpretation of the ruling suggests we might have to suspend the activities of our in-country fulfilment network in France," a spokesperson told POLITICO.

The company has not yet ceased operations, but "without the ability to operate our fulfilment centres in France, we will be forced to restrict a service that has become a lifeline for the millions of people across the country who want to get the products they need from the safety of their homes during this crisis,” the spokesperson continued.

A meeting is due to be held at 3pm to discuss details of a shutdown would start on Thursday April 16 and last until Monday, April 20, reported Capital, a French business magazine.

Amazon has faced criticism for not doing enough to protect its warehouse employees from the coronavirus. The company has recently started handing out protective masks and gloves to workers, and taking employees’ temperatures before shifts.