Apple is reportedly planning to reopen its five Beijing stores on February 14th, albeit with limited hours, via Reuters. The stores will be the first to reopen in China since Apple closed all of its retail stores on February 1st due to concerns about the coronavirus.
The company’s five Beijing stores — Sanlitun, Apple Mall China, Chaoyang Joy City, Wangfujing, and Xidan Joy City — are set to reopen on the 14th from 11AM to 6PM, instead of the usual 10AM to 10PM timing. (Those limited hours will be in place until at least February 20th, according to Apple’s website).
So far, those five Beijing stores are the only ones to reopen. Apple has yet to say when the company’s remaining Chinese stores will reopen.
The coronavirus — formally named COVID-19 — has seen 60,000 confirmed cases and 1,370 deaths to date. In the weeks since the virus has emerged, the World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency, with the US State Department issuing a travel advisory as airlines have independently limited flights to China. Concerns over the virus have also seen major events like MWC 2020 canceled over the past few days.