By Mikey Campbell
Tuesday March 03, 2020, 5:11 p.m. PT (8:11 p.m. ET)
Apple this week updated a regional website covering retail operations in Italy, advising customers that a store in the province of Bergamo will be closed due to COVID-19 issues.
Apple Oriocenter will close this weekend to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Apple is expected to close a single mall, Apple Oriocenter, on March 7 and 8, on the orders of the Italian government.
As required by a decree from the President of the Council of Ministers published last week, all medium and large retail stores, as well as commercial establishments in shopping centers in the provinces of Bergamo, Lodi, Piacenza and Cremona must close on Saturday and Sunday to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Similar measures have been established for other provinces and territories.
AppleInsider was informed of the upcoming closure of the Apple store by the Twitter account “settBIT”, which published tweets in late February retailer identical closings on weekends at Apple il Leone, Apple Fiordaliso and Apple Carosello on February 29 and March 1. Like the shutdown of business in Bergamo, the closings last weekend seem to be the direct result of government intervention. In addition, Today At Apple sessions in certain stores are suspended until March 8.
Although it is not as severe as the guarantees instituted in China, the limited judgment in Italy could presage a more drastic action if the virus continues to spread in this country.
Italy, among the hardest hit by the virus, on Tuesday saw its death toll rise to 79 people, surpassing Iran for the most deaths outside of China, Al Jazeera reports. According to the WHO, more than 92,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with the virus causing 3,110 deaths.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Apple sent a note to employees earlier today describing new travel policies for Italy and South Korea. Similar to previous restrictions on China, the company limits movement into and out of the regions, as employees must obtain approval from a vice president of the company before leaving.
Despite initial promises that it was ready to deal with the changing situation, Apple is feeling the effects of the coronavirus epidemic and, in February, closed all of its commercial and commercial activities in China. While workers have returned to offices and call centers, some stores remain closed.
Apple’s manufacturing partners in China were also affected by the fallout from the fast-spreading virus, resulting in plant closings that temporarily limited the global supply of iPhones. As such, Apple last month revised its revenue forecast for the current quarter.
