Apple on Saturday announced that it was temporarily closing all of its stores and offices in China as the nation copes with the ongoing spread of the Wuhan coronavirus , which has so far killed at least 259 and infected nearly 12,000, mostly in China.
According to a report from CNBC , the stores in mainland China will be closed for about a week until February 9.
“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 said in a statement.
The company, which operates 42 stores in mainland China according to a list of locations on its website, said its online store would stay available to customers while the physical locations are closed. Apple said it was working to re-open stores “as soon as possible.”
“Our thoughts are with the people most immediately affected by the Coronavirus and with those working around the clock to study and contain it,” the Cupertino, California, company added.
Per The New York Times , Apple generates about 17 percent of its sales in China and about 25 percent of its operating income in the country. While the company struggled in the Chinese market, due in part to the prevalence of low-cost Android phones, CEO Tim Cook said last week that the company’s iPhone 11 was performing well in the Chinese market.
Apple does the majority of its manufacturing in China, CNBC said.
Apple has not returned a request for comment
