I never thought I'd have to choose between toilet paper and books

Amazon did have to make that choice in certain markets, and they chose the former. When the lockdown began across several countries, many retailers found themselves scurrying to make essentials available as people rushed to stock up their pantries (and apparently their toilets). With limited bandwidth to meet the surge in demand, essential services and items were prioritised at the cost of discretionary items including books.

Publishers found orders from Amazon and some partner bookstores drying up in the wake of this new order of business, and readers found that they couldn't get hold of physical books. E-reading / audio books and the like achieved a take-it-or-leave-it status. Maybe this de-prioritisation of books was understandable given the circumstances. Perhaps it made sense in dire circumstances, for food for thought to make way for 'actual food'.

What is alarming though, is what's happening now. Now, as India and most of the world tries and resumes commercial activity - there are only some countries that realise that a healthy society, trying to crawl back to life, needs books. Predictably, countries like Austria and Italy, have facilitated the reopening of bookstores. However, in India, barring Kerala, bookstores are yet to receive permission to operate. Academic books including text books for students are in a better position, but not general literature - books that see you through life, and not just through your next exam.

Not sure who needs to hear this right now, but books are essential. 'Essential' may have its own pecking order, but reading and writing certainly deserve to make it to the list.