Hobby Lobby is closing all of its stores and announced Friday it is furloughing most of its retail workers and a “large portion of corporate and distribution employees.”

The announcement follows the Oklahoma City chain's stores being closed by authorities in several states after being charged with defying shelter-in-place rules established to slow the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus.

The announcement stated the stores would close at 8 p.m. Friday and remain closed until further notice.

Hobby Lobby, headquartered in Oklahoma City, employs more than 5,000 people in Oklahoma and more than 43,000 in 900 stores nationwide.