Due to the rapidly evolving novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), IKEA, the world’s biggest furniture brand, has decided to close all 13 stores in the Netherlands until April 6 to ensure the health of its employees as a precaution.
The retailer says that it will continue to offer online shopping with home delivery in select locations. The IKEA locations will remain closed to the public for shopping while remaining operational to fulfill online orders and online order pick up.
Paul de Jong, Country Retail Manager IKEA Netherlands, said:
The health of our employees and customers is our top priority, which is why As a precaution, we have decided to close all our stores in the Netherlands until further notice.
As per the company claims, the preventive measures to protect staff and customers from COVID-19 had already been taken in recent weeks. On top of that, IKEA also takes additional steps for the services that take place at customers’ homes.
Globally, to date, IKEA has announced temporary closures in heavily impacted countries, including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland. With the situation across China now slowly improving, IKEA stores in China are being reopened gradually.
The Netherlands ‘ Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister for Medical Care Bruno Bruins have announced various measures to stop the spread of coronavirus based on the advice of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Also, the government has ordered schools and universities, bars and restaurants to shut and told people to work from home as much as possible.
Main image credits: IKEA
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