Powell’s Books said Sunday it was closing all five of its Portland-area stores through at least the end of March in response to the worldwide coronavirus outbreak.

The bookseller, whose flagship City of Books store in the Pearl District is reliably packed with locals and tourists alike, said it could not remain open and abide by public health officials’ social distancing recommendations.

“Because at this time we feel that we cannot honor the social distancing guidelines presented by the CDC, we have decided that it is important for us to close our five Portland-area stores, effective immediately,” chief executive Emily Powell said in a statement posted to the bookstore’s website.

The company said it would evaluate extending the closure at the end of the month. Meanwhile, it plans to continue online sales.

-- Elliot Njus