SALT LAKE CITY-Per a Tuesday announcement, effective Wednesday March 18, all Desert Industries thrift stores will be closed to the public.

However, they will remain open to serve some individual needs amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

In the statement, made by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “stores will be closed to the public for shopping and donations but will remain open to support the needs of individuals served by bishops’ orders and community partner grants.”

Employees of the Salt Lake City-based Deseret Industries who are low-risk, may be transferred to work at bishops’ storehouses in their stakes and food processing operations to supplement any staff or volunteers from those facilities who are in a higher-risk category and may need to stay home, per the statement.

All of these closures and transfers will be temporary and updated information will be provided as the situation further evolves.

Deseret Industries stores will stay open until 6:00 pm local time.