Coronavirus Hits Apple Hard

Manufacturing and sales snags continue in China

- Rob Mead-Green

Apple has been seriously affected by a countrywide shutdown in China, caused by a coronavirus outbreak that is believed to have started in Hubei province and rapidly spread elsewhere.

Apple was forced to shut down all of its corporate offices, stores and contact centres when the epidemic was first reported in early February, although some had begun to reopen by 13 February. Production of iPhones, AirPods and other Apple products was also impacted as factories run by suppliers such as Foxconn were also closed.