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Apple has said it will close all of its stores and offices in mainland China until the end of next week amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak.
The death toll from the deadly infection has risen to nearly 260 and the number of confirmed cases was approaching 12,000 on Saturday.
“Out of an abundance of caution and based on the latest advice from leading health experts, we’re closing all our corporate offices, stores, and contact centres in mainland China through 9 February,” Apple said in a statement.
The company said it looked forward to re-opening stores “as soon as possible”.
Several other companies, such as Starbucks and McDonald’s, have also temporarily shut stores in China.
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Buses carrying British nationals travelling along the M6 motorway on their way to Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside
PA
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A pedestrian wearing a surgical face mask walks outside the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where it is thought that two members of the same family who tested positive for novel coronavirus are being treated
AFP via Getty Images
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Coaches transport the Britons and foreign nationals to Arrowe Park Hospital
Getty Images
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A convoy of coaches carrying British nationals evacuated from Wuhan in China amid the coronavirus outbreak and medical personnel in a protective suit drive away from RAF Brize Norton
AFP via Getty
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British Nationals arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, after having flown in from Wuhan – the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus
Tom Maddick / SWNS
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A police outrider heads a convoy of coaches carrying British nationals from the RAF station
AFP via Getty
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Passengers leave the plane
PA
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Barriers are put up at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, as they prepare for buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China
PA
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Some of the eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan following a Coronavirus outbreak disembark a plane
Getty Images
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Getty Images
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Ambulance at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
Tom Maddick / SWNS
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The plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arriving
PA
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Buses and ambulances standing by for the passengers
PA
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Gaming consoles and toys being brought into the Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, as they prepare for buses carrying British nationals from the RAF base
PA
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The flight track of the aircraft
Flightradar24/PA
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On arrival, the UK passengers will be taken to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral and quarantined for two weeks
Reuters
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A student wearing a face mask walks close to the Royal Victoria Infirmary where two patients who have tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus are being treated by specialist medical workers
Getty Images
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A woman wearing a face mask passes a Public Health England sign at Heathrow Airport
AFP via Getty
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Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton
Tom Maddick / SWNS
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The Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne, where two patients who have tested positive for coronavirus in England
PA
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A woman wears a face mask in Parliament Square in London as the first cases of the virus to be diagnosed in the UK were announced
PA
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Passengers wear face masks after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport
AFP via Getty Images
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A St John’s Ambulance vehicle exits the Royal Air Force station
AFP via Getty
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A pedestrian wears a face mask as he walks near the Houses of Parliament
AFP via Getty Images
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Coaches arrives at RAF Brize Norton
Tom Maddick / SWNS
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Passengers wear face masks as they stand with their luggage at Heathrow Airport
AFP via Getty
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A man wears a face mask as he walks along the Thames embankment
AFP via Getty Images
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Passengers wear face masks at Heathrow Airport
AFP via Getty
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Buses carrying British nationals travelling along the M6 motorway on their way to Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside
PA
2/28
A pedestrian wearing a surgical face mask walks outside the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where it is thought that two members of the same family who tested positive for novel coronavirus are being treated
AFP via Getty Images
3/28
Coaches transport the Britons and foreign nationals to Arrowe Park Hospital
Getty Images
4/28
A convoy of coaches carrying British nationals evacuated from Wuhan in China amid the coronavirus outbreak and medical personnel in a protective suit drive away from RAF Brize Norton
AFP via Getty
5/28
British Nationals arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, after having flown in from Wuhan – the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus
Tom Maddick / SWNS
6/28
A police outrider heads a convoy of coaches carrying British nationals from the RAF station
AFP via Getty
7/28
Passengers leave the plane
PA
8/28
Barriers are put up at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, as they prepare for buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China
PA
9/28
Some of the eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan following a Coronavirus outbreak disembark a plane
Getty Images
10/28
Getty Images
11/28
Ambulance at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
Tom Maddick / SWNS
12/28
The plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arriving
PA
13/28
Buses and ambulances standing by for the passengers
PA
14/28
Gaming consoles and toys being brought into the Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, as they prepare for buses carrying British nationals from the RAF base
PA
15/28
The flight track of the aircraft
Flightradar24/PA
16/28
On arrival, the UK passengers will be taken to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral and quarantined for two weeks
Reuters
17/28
A student wearing a face mask walks close to the Royal Victoria Infirmary where two patients who have tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus are being treated by specialist medical workers
Getty Images
18/28
A woman wearing a face mask passes a Public Health England sign at Heathrow Airport
AFP via Getty
19/28
Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton
Tom Maddick / SWNS
20/28
The Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne, where two patients who have tested positive for coronavirus in England
PA
21/28
A woman wears a face mask in Parliament Square in London as the first cases of the virus to be diagnosed in the UK were announced
PA
22/28
Passengers wear face masks after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport
AFP via Getty Images
23/28
A St John’s Ambulance vehicle exits the Royal Air Force station
AFP via Getty
24/28
A pedestrian wears a face mask as he walks near the Houses of Parliament
AFP via Getty Images
25/28
Coaches arrives at RAF Brize Norton
Tom Maddick / SWNS
26/28
Passengers wear face masks as they stand with their luggage at Heathrow Airport
AFP via Getty
27/28
A man wears a face mask as he walks along the Thames embankment
AFP via Getty Images
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Passengers wear face masks at Heathrow Airport
AFP via Getty
Meanwhile, other companies have called for employees in China to work from home and avoid non-essential business travel.
Sweden’s Ikea, Walmart and other companies have also restricted travel and operations.
Earlier this week, Apple closed three stores in China due to concerns about the spread of the virus.
The company remains heavily reliant on China both for smartphone sales as well as for its supply chain and manufacturing.
Many factories in Hubei province, including plants run by AB InBev and General Motors Co, have temporarily suspended production due to the virus.
In a recent earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company was working out mitigation plans to deal with possible production loss from its suppliers in Wuhan. The city where the virus outbreak originated is home to several Apple suppliers.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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