Apple to close all stores worldwide except in China for two weeks

Apple will close all its stores worldwide except those in China until March 27 in response to the spread of coronavirus, announced Apple CEO, Tim Cook on Saturday.

“Apple will be temporarily closing all stores outside of Greater China until March 27 and committing $15M to help with worldwide recovery,” Tim Cook tweeted sharing a link of his official statement.

According to the Apple’s CEO statement, the company is moving to flexible work arrangements in all of its offices worldwide except China, adding that its online stores will remain open.

“Team members should work remotely if their job allows, and those whose work requires them to be on-site should follow guidance to maximize interpersonal space. In all our offices, we are rolling out new health screenings and temperature checks,” said Tim Cook in his statement.

“the most effective way to minimize the risk of the virus’s transmission is to reduce density and maximize social distance.”

Tim Cook in the statement also added that since the infection rates in China have dramatically declined, all Apple stores in China have reopened. “I want to express my deep gratitude to our team in China for their determination and spirit… I also want to thank our operations team and partners for their remarkable efforts to restore our supply chain.”