Shopping centres across the Illawarra may still be open, but it's becoming less and less enticing for shoppers to visit as more retailers voluntarily close their doors.
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With state and federal governments pleading with people to stay home except for "essential" outings, tens of thousands of retail workers across the country have been stood down until further notice.
On Friday, department store Myer - which has a Shellharbour store - announced it would close on Sunday for at least four weeks and stand down 10,000 staff.
"As team members will not be working, they will not be paid during this period of imposed closure," Myer told the stock exchange.
"Full-time and part-time members will have greater flexibility to access their annual leave and long service entitlements, in addition to government assistance measures.
On Saturday, Country Road group also announced its stores would close until further notice.
"As a heritage Australian brand, we recognise that we have an important role to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19," the brand told shoppers.
"Therefore, we have made the decision to temporarily close our Australian retail stores from end of day Saturday 28 March until further notice.
"This is a decision that has not been made lightly, and one we feel is necessary to protect the health and wellbeing of our team, customers and wider community."
The Cotton On Group which includes, Cotton On, Cotton On Body, Cotton On Kids, Rubi, Typo, Factorie and Supré, will temporarily close stores from Sunday at 5pm.
The company announced the decision to move all business online in a message on social media on Saturday.
The notice said "we're in it together" and thanked staff and customers "during this tough time" of a global pandemic due to the coronavirus.
Already last week fashion retailer Mosaic, which owns brands such as Noni B, Rivers, W Lane, Rockmans and Katies, told investors on Wednesday morning it would suspend all store operations from Thursday after a significant drop in traffic.
It said 6800 people - mostly women - would be stood down across the country with staff able to access to some leave entitlements while the company reviews what government support may be available.
Forever New and Michael Hill Jewellers closed on Thursday, and on the same day Premier Investments told investors would temporarily close all stores until April 22, standing down over 9000 staff worldwide.
Its brands include Jacqui E, Smiggle, Peter Alexander, Jay Jays, Just Jeans and Portmans; these stores will all close in Wollongong.
Lovisa, Athlete's Foot, Skechers, Platypus, Tarocash, YD, Connor and General Pants were among other closures announced.