Apple CEO Tim Cook Announced Company Will Temporarily Close Stores Outside China Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced, on Saturday, that the Cupertino-based company will close all retail stores outside China until March 27 to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Despite the temporary closure, the company’s online store will remain operational and continue fulfilling purchases made online.

The American business executive, in a statement, said that Apple prioritizes the safety and health of its people. Cook added the tech giant learned lessons from the outbreak in China. This, according to him, is the primary reason why the company is taking these precautionary measures.

“One of those lessons is that the most effective way to minimize risk of the virus’s transmission is to reduce density and maximize social distance,” Cook wrote in a blog post. “As rates of new infections continue to grow in other places, we’re taking additional steps to protect our team members and customers,” he went on.

Cook also made it clear that employees affected by the short-term closure will still get paid. He said all hourly workers will receive the same amount they get on a normal working day. The CEO shared that Apple expanded its leave policies to accommodate family and personal circumstances caused by the highly infectious disease. He even praised China-based employees for their resiliency and grit amid the threats posed by this pandemic.

“There is no mistaking the challenge of this moment. The entire Apple family is indebted to the heroic first responders, doctors, nurses, researchers, public health experts and public servants globally who have given every ounce of their spirit to help the world meet this moment,” Cook said. “We do not yet know with certainty when the greatest risk will be behind us,” he continued.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Apple announced that this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will be held online amid the global coronavirus outbreak. The company claimed the event will provide attendees a “new online experience.” Though it will be different compared to the previous ones, the WWDC online will still feature sessions with developers and the traditional announcement of new Apple products.

The news came a few days after Google, Facebook and Microsoft announced the cancellation of the in-person portions of its developer shows. So, just like WWDC, Google I/O, F8 and Build will be held virtually, per CNBC. The Mobile World Congress, E3, Game Developers Conference and SXSW have, also, been canceled because of coronavirus.