Coronavirus: Hobby Lobby stays open and employee dies at Lowe’s amid anger at chains claiming ‘essential business’ status

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser, ordered Hobby Lobby to shutter its stores immediately, after it had specifically been classified as non-essential, ABC News reports. “For the avoidance of doubt, and as you have been previously notified, Hobby Lobby is not a ‘critical business,’” the letter from the attorney general’s office states. “You are directed to immediately close all Hobby Lobby locations within the State of Colorado.” In Ohio, Attorney General David Yost has also sent a cease and desist letter on Wednesday. “I just want to make it clear to Hobby Lobby, and anybody who is foolish enough to follow in their footsteps, that in Dallas County, the government and 99.9 per cent of the business community, puts public health over profits,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news conference.