Between 20,000 and 25,000 U.S. stores could close permanently this year as retailers go out of business or file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A record 9,800 stores closed in 2019, but COVID-19 has supercharged the trend, according to a report from retail and tech data firm Coresight Research. “The coronavirus outbreak could accelerate a correction in mall space that already looks overdue,” said Coresight CEO Deborah Weinswig.

So far, the home-and-office retail sector has had the highest number of announced store closures this year, at 1,161. Apparel, footwear and accessories follow at 986 and grocery at 480. Between 55 and 60 percent of the total expected 2020 closures will be mall-based, according to Coresight. As the year progresses, the department stores and apparel retailers that anchor and operate in malls are likely to shutter more units than any other retail category.

As of June 5, retailers like JCPenney, Pier 1 and Victoria’s Secret already have planned about 4,000 permanent store closures. And 15 major retailers — including Tuesday Morning, J.Crew, Neiman Marcus, Papyrus and Stage — have filed for bankruptcy protection this year. Coresight expects another spate of filings as more debt-laden retailers seek to close stores.

According to Weinswig, “Retailers across sectors will have their resources and resolve tested, regardless of their financial and operational health, as they seek to emerge out of the current chaos with minimal adverse, long-term consequences.”