Primark is set to close all of its UK stores as of tonight amid the escalating coronavirus pandemic sweeping the country.
The retailer's owner, Associated British Foods Plc, will close all 189 branches after it came out that the chain has cancelled all new orders from suppliers.
The retailer has scrapped clothing orders from factories in India and Bangladesh.
BREAKING: Primark will reportedly close all 189 of its UK stores at the end of trading today amid the coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/JS18bnXBHF
— Stuart Robinson (@stuartrobinson1) March 22, 2020
Alright I’m calling it - you’re allowed to publicly shame people ‘just nipping to Primark for a few things’.
— Ryan Sampson (@MrRyanSampson) March 21, 2020
Primark isn't the first retail giant to close its doors, as Ikea announced it would be shutting all shops late last week, while New Look has also closed all of its UK shops for the foreseeable future.
Boss Paul Marchant said Primark now faces "unprecedented, and frankly unimaginable times".
Stores in the US, France, Spain and Italy have already closed to try to contain the spread of COVID-19, with the UK being one of the last to do so.
