Apple is closing all stores and offices in China through February 9

Apple has issued a brief statement announcing it will be closing all its physical stores, corporate offices and contact centers in Mainland China through the end of next week (February 9). Motivated by 'an abundance of caution and based on the latest advice from leading health experts', the move aims to limit the exposure of company employees to the coronavirus outbreak that's been increasingly troubling China and the world for the past two months.

The Apple online store in China, on the other hand, remains open.

It was previously reported that the coronavirus situation may disrupt the production of the rumored upcoming iPhone 9, as well as the latest AirPods. Key Apple partner Foxconn later denied those rumors, assuring that they will 'continue to meet all global manufacturing obligations'.

The iPhone 9, meanwhile, has gone into trial production, industry insiders have stated. Market launch is rumored to be scheduled for the end of March with a planned order volume of 30 million units.

Via (paywall)