Apple Inc has temporarily closed all of its 53 stores in California due to a coronavirus epidemic and 16 stores in the UK following restrictions introduced by the government in London, a spokesperson said on Saturday.
The company said on Friday it was temporarily closing some stores in California following a COVID-19[feminine[feminine case, sending the iPhone manufacturer’s shares down in trade after the bell. This ad covered at least 12 stores.
“Due to the current COVID-19[feminine[feminine
conditions in some of the communities we serve, we are temporarily closing stores in those areas. We are taking this step with great caution as we closely monitor the situation and look forward to the return of our teams and customers as soon as possible, ”the spokesperson said in a statement.
Customers will still be able to pick up existing orders over the next few days, the spokesperson said. The statement did not mention when Apple expects stores to reopen.
Coronavirus cases are on the rise in the United States and the United Kingdom, with the United States having had more than 17.4 million infections and around 314,000 deaths.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday imposed an effective lockdown on more than 16 million people in England and rolled back plans to ease Christmas restrictions. Other countries in the UK, whose response to the pandemic sometimes differs from that of England, have also acted.
Johnson said London and the south-east of England would now be placed in a new level 4 lockdown and residents of those areas would be required to stay at home except for essential reasons such as work. Non-essential businesses will be closed, as will indoor recreation and entertainment.
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