Kohl’s on Wednesday became the latest company to announce plans to close on Thanksgiving Day in an effort to keep customers and employees safe amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In a news release, company CEO Michael Gass said officials were adjusting their planned holiday schedule to account for the "very unusual year."
"Given the importance of safety and convenience, we expect more customers to shop earlier, search for great deals throughout the season, and take advantage of our online and omnichannel conveniences," company officials said Wednesday. "Therefore, we have made the decision to close our stores on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2020."
Earlier this month, Kohl’s announced that beginning July 20, it would require customers to wear masks at all of its stores. Previously, the company had required only employees to wear masks while working.
Officials with Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target and Walmart, which also operates Sam’s Club locations, have also announced that the retailers will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
The United States leads the world with the most coronavirus cases and the highest death toll. Since the start of the pandemic, officials have confirmed more than 4.3 million infections and reported more than 149,000 deaths nationwide, according to numbers compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
As of Wednesday, more than 16.8 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide and more than 662,000 people have died of the viral infection, according to Johns Hopkins.