TK Maxx to close all 349 UK stores amid coronavirus crisis

TK Maxx has become the latest retailer to close its stores across the UK due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Yesterday, furniture giant Ikea announced it'll close its UK stores at 6pm tonight to prevent the deadly bug from spreading.

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TK Maxx closed its stores as of today, but shoppers can still buy items on its website to get delivered.

The discount fashion retailer has 349 stores across the UK, reports , and it's not clear when they'll open again.

The Sun has asked TK Maxx what will happen to shop workers and whether they'll get paid, but we haven't yet heard back.

We've also asked the retailer to clarify what shoppers should do if they planned to return items, so we'll update this article once we get a response.

The announcement comes as  TK Maxx posted record full-year sales last month.

Its parent company, TJX Companies in the US, has also closed sister brand Homesense’s roughly 70 stores across the UK and Ireland until further notice.

As of August 2019, TK Maxx had 580 stores in six countries across Europe: the UK, Ireland, Poland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

TK Maxx said in a statement on its website: "We’re sorry but currently all our stores in the UK are closed to customers.

"We hope to reopen soon so please check tkmaxx.com regularly for the most up to date information."

TK Maxx and Ikea aren't the only retailers to have made drastic changes in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

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Greggs has closed its seating areas and toilets to help stop the spread of the virus.

The same goes for McDonald's, which has also shut off its seating areas leaving only takeaway and drive-thru options.

Meanwhile, easyJet staff have been asked to take three months unpaid leave due to coronavirus.