Apple has announced the decision to close all company’s corporate offices, contact centers, and 42 stores in Mainland China up until February 9 as the Coronavirus continues to spread. However, the online store will not be affected and will still be working as usual.
The Cupertino’s decision is based on the fact that the World Health Organization declared global public health emergency over the outbreak of the virus that has already killed nearly 300 people and infected more than 17 thousand.
The company said in a statement: “Our thoughts are with the people most immediately affected by the Coronavirus and with those working around the clock to study and contain it. Out of an abundance of caution and based on the latest advice from leading health experts, we're closing all our corporate offices, stores and contact centers in mainland China through February 9. Apple's online store in China remains open.”
Apple also plans to “closely monitor the situation” and looks forward to reopening the stores “as soon as possible.”
Apple is not the only large tech company to close its stores and offices due to the outbreak. Earlier, we wrote about Google shutting down the company’s offices in China because of the health threat.
Taking such measures may result in reducing Apple’s revenues as its manufacturing facilities and suppliers are located in China.
You can find more information on how the virus originated and track the spread of it across the world in our latest articles.
