Primark ‘will close all 189 UK stores from tonight’ over coronavirus pandemic
Primark will reportedly close all 189 of its UK stores tonight amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Associated British Foods Plc, which owns the retail giant, intends to close stores from Sunday night after cancelling all new orders from suppliers as demand shrinks due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Financial Times reported.
The fashion retailer has cancelled all new clothing orders from suppliers such as factories in India and Bangladesh but will continue to honour orders already shipped or delivered to Primark warehouses or stores.
Primark isn't the first retail giant to close its doors as Ikea announced it would be shutting all shops late last week.
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The flat pack giant closed all its UK and Ireland stores until further notice on Friday evening.
New Look has also closed all of its UK shops until further notice.
On Friday, the company issued an internal memo to its 13,000 strong workforce, offering them the option of unpaid voluntary leave, voluntary reduced hours or the chance to use their holiday allowance for time off for the foreseeable future.
Coffee giants Starbucks and Pret a Manger could have remained open offering take away services but have also decided to close their doors to customers.
The news comes as the Prime Minister ordered cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants throughout the UK to close immediately on Friday evening.
Boris Johnson said nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms, and leisure centres must close too.
The PM said hospitality venues would be allowed to open to provide takeout services only.
He added that England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland had all agreed to the dramatic scaling up of the measures.
“Following agreement between all the four nations of the UK, we are collectively telling – telling – cafes, bars, pubs restaurants to close tonight as soon as they reasonably can and not to open tomorrow.
"To be clear, they can continue to provide take-out services. We’re also telling nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres to close on the timescale.”
Current Government advice states that people who suffer mild symptoms of coronavirus, or live with someone who does, should to stay at home and self-isolate and will not be tested.
If you live on your own, you should self-isolate for seven days, but if you live with others, you should all self-isolate for 14 days.
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