BEIJING: Apple on Saturday said it would shut down all of its web stores and corporate offices in mainland China before Feb 9, As concerns installed over the coronavirus infection, where death toll reached more than 304 by the virus.
Apple said in a statement, “Based on the latest recommendations from leading health experts, we are shutting all our corporate offices, shops and contact centers in mainland China by 9 February,” adding, “the company looks forward to reopening outlets as early as possible.”
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Apple company closed three stores in China earlier this week, due to concerns about the virus spread. It is following a number of overseas stores, including Starbucks Corp and McDonald’s Corp, as a precautionary measure to immediately shut down office buildings.
Meanwhile, many other companies have called for Chinese employees to work from home and avoid non-essential business travel in the first week of February.
Apple remains heavily dependent on China for both smartphone sales and supply chain and manufacturing, many factories in the province of Hubei, including plants run by AB InBev and General Motors Co, have temporarily suspended manufacturing mainly due to the coronavirus.
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