Virus keeps Black Friday crowds thin across the US

The raging coronavirus pandemic kept crowds thin at malls and stores across the country on Black Friday.Black Friday is ordinarily the busiest shopping day of the year, drawing millions of people eager to get started on their holiday spending.But these are not normal times: A spike in coronavirus cases is threatening the economy's fitful recovery from the sudden plunge in the spring. Crowds at stores were dramatically diminished as shoppers shift online.

Many retailers beefed up their safety protocols to reassure wary customers about coming in on Black Friday. Stores have also moved their doorbuster deals online and ramped up curbside pickup options as a last grasp at sales before the year ends and they head into the dark days of winter with the pandemic still raging. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled shopping in crowded stores during the holidays a "higher risk" activity and says people should limit any in-person shopping.

The day after Thanksgiving has been losing its luster as the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season for the past several years, with more stores were offering holiday discounts throughout the month.Stores considered "non-essential" that had been forced to close because of state and local restrictions are among the hardest hit in the pandemic, with more than 40 chains, including J.C. Penney and J.Crew, filing for bankruptcy.

(Image Credit: AP)