IKEA closes all 50 U.S. stores and locations around the world amid coronavirus pandemic

IKEA is joining several other retailers in shutting its doors as coronavirus spreads, the company said.

All 50 IKEA stores in the U.S. will temporarily close. The IKEA Planning Studio in Manhattan will also be closed, according to a news release.

“Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. This is the most responsible way IKEA can continue to care for our co-workers and our customers in a manner that is healthy and safe,” Javier Quiñones, IKEA Retail U.S. President, said in the news release. “We are taking our role in containing this epidemic seriously, and we recognize the positive impact our actions could have on making life better for the millions of people who have been impacted by this crisis.”

Orders can still be made online and home delivery is available, the company said.

IKEA has 18,000 workers, according to the news release. The company is planning to give them paid leave and benefits packages.

“Co-workers are at the heart of the IKEA business, and the retailer is committed to caring for its 18,000 co-workers in the best possible way,” the news release said. “IKEA will continue to support co-workers through its comprehensive benefits package and paid leave policy.”

As of Thursday, there were 11,274 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S., according to data from Johns Hopkins. Globally, there have been more than 230,000 confirmed cases.

Several other big-name retailers have shut their doors as coronavirus spreads. Macy’s, Nordstrom and Kohl’s have all closed stores across the U.S., according to previous McClatchy News reporting.

IKEA has temporarily closed stores in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland.

This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 4:45 PM with the headline "IKEA closes all 50 U.S. stores and locations around the world amid coronavirus pandemic."