KEY POINTS
  • Amazon Care was launched last year to provide virtual health care to Amazon employees.
  • Now, the group is in talks with the Gates Foundation and other groups to use its logistics expertise to help out with coronavirus testing efforts in the Seattle area. 
The Amazon headquarters sits virtually empty in Seattle, Washington, March 10, 2020. In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, Amazon recommended all employees in its Seattle office work from home, leaving much of downtown nearly void of people.

Amazon Care, the company's virtual medical clinic for employees, is in talks with local public health organizations about using its logistics expertise to help deliver at-home coronavirus testing kits to people's homes in the Seattle area. 

The discussions have been going on for more than a week, say three people with knowledge of the plans. The people declined to share their names because Amazon Care's involvement is still confidential, and they have not been authorized to do so.