Coronavirus Update: Apple US Stores Closed Until Early May Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

In the wake of the coronavirus spread in the U.S. and other parts of the world, Apple told employees that its U.S. retail stores will continue to remain closed until early May. This new guideline also includes the work-from-home policy for Apple workers.

Deirdre O’Brien, senior vice president of retail and people at Apple, told the employees in a memo that flexible work schedules will continue for all offices. She added that all Apple retail stores will remain shut until early next month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported.

In the memo, she wrote that the tech giant is monitoring “local conditions for every Apple facility on a daily basis.” She stated that Apple will only consider reopening “on the basis of thorough, thoughtful reviews and the latest guidance from local governments and public health experts.”

The Cupertino-based tech company also stressed that it is working on several options to ensure parents have flexible work schedules in these testing times. O’Brien said Apple is aware that parents are juggling multiple duties. She encouraged them to share their challenges with management.

She said that the COVID-19 Response Team at Apple is evaluating the pandemic, which is affecting everyone in the company. “The executive team is meeting daily and closely coordinating with teams across the company, and together, we’re navigating a public health crisis that affects every place and every person differently,” she wrote via 9to5 Mac.

She also reminded the staff of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which consists of “many great resources — including counseling, financial coaching and other work-life tools — to help guide and support you through challenging times.”

According to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center, 53,069 people have died due to the coronavirus across the world. Meanwhile, more than one million people have tested positive with COVID-19.

In the U.S., the coronavirus cases have seen a sharp rise. As of April 3, 12.30 a.m., Eastern Time, the coronavirus death toll stands at 5,983 in the country and more than 245,000 people are coronavirus positive.