Kohl's Closes All Stores For 2 Weeks To Limit Coronavirus Spread

CHICAGO — As malls around Illinois join schools, restaurants and stadiums in shuttering to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, department store chain Kohl's announced the temporarily closure of its stores.

The nationwide closure begins at 7 p.m., Thursday, the Menomenee Falls, Wisconsin-based retailer announced in a release earlier the same day. The stores will stay closed for at least two weeks.

Chief Executive Officer Michelle Gass said the company would continue online sales and looked forward to reopening its stores soon.

"To demonstrate our support of the efforts underway to contain the spread of the coronavirus, we are closing all Kohl's stores through at least April 1," Gass said. "We will support store associates with two calendar weeks of pay."

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The announcement of the store closures came a day after Kohl's said it would implement added cleaning and reduce store hours to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to make sure all stores are clean and well-staffed.

Kohl's has stores in 64 towns in Illinois, according to the website of the publicly traded company. Dozens of other retail chains have already announced the voluntary temporary closure of their Illinois locations in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

More than 420 people in the state have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, as of Thursday afternoon, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Four people have died after confirmed infections of the virus.

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