The company said it would place the highest priority on products in six broad categories: baby products; health and household goods; beauty and personal care; groceries; industrial and scientific products; and pet supplies.

Amazon announced Monday it would hire an additional 100,000 workers in its U.S. warehouses to help handle increased demand.

The news comes as several U.S. states and European countries have closed bars, restaurants, movie theaters, gyms and other businesses where people come into close contact in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus. With the business closures and "social distancing" recommendations, more people are turning to online retailers like Amazon for basic goods like toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

The changes announced by the company affect its Fulfilled by Amazon program in which third-parties use Amazon to store, pack and ship goods. Those products are eligible for its Prime service, which offers Amazon’s 150 million Prime customers free, expedited delivery.

(Amazon offers a program where sellers can fulfill their own orders for Prime customers, but it hasn’t accepted any new sellers since at least March 2019.)

The decision by Amazon to prioritize the sales of certain goods is likely to upend third-parties who sell through the retailer, said Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, which advocates for small businesses.