Ireland’s bookmakers are closing their retail operations until at least the end of the month in a bid to reduce the further spread of the coronavirus.

On Monday, the Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) announced that “most” of its members had agreed to “cease trading … until at least March 29th.” The IBA said the voluntary decision had been made “in the absence of specific guidance for their sector.”

The IBA conducted a call with its membership on Monday morning, in which they discussed “the clear Irish government guidance that has been issued around social distancing.” Ireland’s government has urged individuals to keep a two-meter distance between themselves, a benchmark that would be hard to achieve in the traditionally cramped confines of a betting shop.

IBA chairperson Sharon Byrne said it was “very important that the retail betting sector acts responsibly and plays its part” in limiting the spread of the virus in Ireland. Byrne said “the vast majority” of IBA members would “look to close their doors in the next couple of days once staff and customers have been informed” but noted that decisions on if and when to close “lies with each retailer.”