Macy’s and Bath and Body Works have announced that they are temporarily closing their stores in the United States to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Macy’s first notified their employees through an emergency alert Tuesday afternoon that all of its stores would be temporarily closed by end of business Tuesday. Those stores include all Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bluemercury, Backstage, Bloomingdale’s the Outlet, and Market by Macy’s stores. Macy’s said it intends to reopen the stores April 1.
Bath and Body Works CEO Andrew Meslow sent out an email to customers Monday night, which stated that the company’s goal “has been to make products available to help you care for your families and friends to prevent the spread of COVID-19/ coronavirus as much as we can. But based on the information we have today, we have made the extremely difficult decision to temporarily close all of our stores in the U.S. and Canada.”
Meslow added, “While our associates are home with their loved ones at this critical time, we’ll support them with pay, as well as look for other ways we might ease their concerns and share our appreciation for all they’ve done. As a company, we’re also working on additional ways to support those in need to our home office communities.”
Meslow did not say when the stores would reopen.