WASHINGTON: Amazon.com Inc said late on March 1 that two employees in Milan, Italy, have contracted the coronavirus and are under quarantine.

"We’re supporting the affected employees who were in Milan and are now in quarantine," company spokesman Dan Perlet said.

The world's biggest online retailer said it was unaware of any US employees who had contracted the virus. On Feb 28, Amazon told employees to stop non-essential travel, within the United States and beyond. The company also confirmed on March 1 that it is moving some recruiting interviews to video rather than in person.

The United States on Feb 29 hiked its travel advisory and urged US citizens not to travel to the Veneto and Lombardy regions of Italy because of the coronavirus outbreak. Milan is the capital of the Lombardy region.

The New York Times reported the Amazon employees contracting the coronavirus earlier on March 1.

 - Reuters