Apple (AAPL) is temporarily shuttering stores again in U.S. states where COVID-19 cases have been spiking in recent weeks. The company confirmed the move to Yahoo Finance via an emailed statement saying that the company is closing its retail stores beginning June 20 out of an abundance of caution.
The stores to be closed are in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, four states that are seeing the highest seven-day average of new coronavirus infections since the pandemic took root in the U.S.
“Due to current COVID-19 conditions in some of the communities we serve, we are temporarily closing stores in these areas,” Apple said in a statement provided to Yahoo Finance.
“We take this step with an abundance of caution as we closely monitor the situation and we look forward to having our teams and customers back as soon as possible.”
Apple shut all of its stores across the world during the coronavirus pandemic, initially focusing on China, where the virus first appeared. By the time the outbreaks began to subside there and Apple was opening its stores in the country, the virus had spread to other regions, forcing Apple to shutter all stores outside of mainland China.
Apple has been one of the first movers in closing its stores, allowing it to serve as a kind of indicator of conditions in regions impacted by the virus. There’s no word yet as to how long the stores will be closed or when they’ll be reopened.
Here’s a list of the stores that Apple is closing:
Florida
- Waterside Shops
- Coconut Point
North Carolina
- Southpark
- Northlake Mall
South Carolina
- Haywood Mall
Arizona
- Chandler Fashion Center
- Scottsdale Fashion Square
- Arrowhead
- SanTan Village
- Scottsdale Quarter
- La Encantada
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