Walmart in DeLand has temporarily closed its doors Thursday for a deep cleaning in response to the area's rising COVID-19 transmission rate, company officials said. The two-day closure is "part of a company-initiated program" to allow a third party "to further sanitize the store" and allow enough time for associates to restock shelves and prepare to reopen, Brian Little, a Walmart spokesperson, said in an email to the city of DeLand. Asked if there was an outbreak among employees or if the closure is due to the number of cases in the area, Little said: "The nature of the virus makes it nearly impossible to track a source, which is why — as an essential business for the past year — we are taking these proactive measures in our stores to help protect our associates and customers as best as we can."