Bed Bath & Beyond is temporarily closing 800 stores due to the coronavirus pandemic, but plans to keep approximately 700 "essential" stores open with reduced hours.

The New Jersey-based home goods retailer announced Thursday that it will close stores without health and beauty departments on Friday until April 3.

According to a news release, the stores staying open are "essential" because they "sell health care, personal care, infant care, cleaning supplies, or food and beverages."

The essential stores include Bed Bath & Beyond stores that have health and personal care departments, the company's buybuy BABY and Harmon store concepts.

Bed Bath & Beyond said in a statement to USA TODAY that its website will be updated by mid-morning Friday with a list of stores that are open with limited hours and which are closed.

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CEO Mark Tritton said in a statement the company "will continue to adapt and be responsive as our customer needs change, and in line with public health guidance and regulations."

"Our mission is to make it easy for our customers to feel at home and we remain committed to delivering for them, however we can, during this difficult time," Tritton said.

As of Nov. 30, the company had 1,524 stores, including 981 Bed Bath & Beyond stores nationwide and in Canada, 278 stores under the names of World Market, Cost Plus World Market or Cost Plus, 126 buybuy Baby stores, 81 stores under the names Christmas Tree Shops, Christmas Tree Shops, andThat! or andThat!, and 55 stores under the names Harmon, Harmon Face Values or Face Values.

The company plans to close 40 Bed Bath & Beyond stores – located in 19 states and Washington, D.C. – in the first half of 2020. Some of the stores already closed.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko