Ikea Canada announced Wednesday all stores across the country are closed until further notice due to concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus pandemic. “Our top priority during these challenging times continues to be health and safety,” said Michael Ward, CEO and chief sustainability officer at Ikea Canada. “Our communities are working hard to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and to support these efforts, we will temporarily close all stores across the country to support social distancing efforts and based on recommendations from local health authorities.” Preventive measures to protect staff and customers from COVID-19 had already been taken in recent weeks as the retailer had closed its restaurants, bistros, and play areas for children.