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Apple stores reopen in China after coronavirus quarantine

Many retailers and eateries in China have shortened their opening hours during the epidemic

In this March 8, 2020, photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a staff member walks down a corridor of an empty makeshift hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. AP

AFP
Published 13.03.20, 09:36 PM

The last of Apple’s 42 stores in China reopened on Friday as the country slowly goes back to work following weeks of quarantine that forced the closure of businesses.

The firm announced on February 1 that it would shut all its stores, corporate offices and contact centres across the mainland as the epidemic rapidly spread.

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More than 3,100 people have died and 81,000 infected in China but the number of cases has declined in recent weeks, suggesting strict quarantine measures have met some success in halting the virus.

Apple’s stores have gradually been reopening over the past few days and a spokeswoman for the company said the remaining few would throw their doors open on Friday.

The company’s website shows its stores now have “special operating hours”.

Many retailers and eateries in China have shortened their opening hours during the epidemic, many checking customer temperatures and restricting numbers in-store.

Last month, Apple said it would miss its second-quarter revenue forecast and global iPhone supplies would fall because of the epidemic. The firm had forecast a revenue of $63-67 billion for January-March but did not disclose how much it expected the revenue to fall.

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