Following advice from prominent health experts, Apple closes its stores in China

Apple said today, Saturday, that it has decided to close all its official stores and offices in China until the date of February 9, after escalating fears of the spread of the Corona virus and the high number of deaths to 259 people.

"Because of extreme caution and based on the latest advice from prominent health experts, we are closing all of our offices, stores, and contact centers in mainland China until February 9," Apple said in a statement. The company added that it is looking to re-open the stores "as soon as possible."

Earlier this week, Apple closed three stores in China because of fears of the virus, to join a number of foreign retailers, including Starbucks and McDonald's temporarily closed its stores, as a precaution.

Meanwhile, multi-employee companies in China have called to work from home and to stop unnecessary travel to work in the first week of this month.

It is noteworthy that companies in China are preparing at this time every year to return to their normal operations after the end of the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.

Apple still relies heavily on China for smartphone sales as well as for its supply chain and manufacturing. Multiple factories in Hubei Province have suspended production temporarily due to the virus.