Foxconn originally planned to resume work on February 10 in order to continue to produce Apple devices after the Lunar New Year holiday. However, affected by the raging new coronavirus, the company has cancelled the resumption of work, according to Nikkei.
Public health experts told Foxconn that after an on-site inspection, its Shenzhen plant was facing "high risks of coronavirus infection," and health officials were concerned that poor air circulation in restaurants and dormitories and the use of central air conditioning would increase the risk of infection transmission, people familiar with the matter told Nikkei.
Foxconn's largest iPhone plant in Zhengzhou, China, has also cancelled plans to resume work next Monday. In addition, Foxconn also canceled flight reservations for Taiwanese employees back to the mainland on Friday, and the company has told Shenzhen employees not to return to work.
Foxconn's display arm, Innolux, which has facilities in Shenzhen, on Friday published a note to employees advising them not to come back to its Longhua complex on Monday, according to a separate internal announcement seen by Nikkei.
Apple said on Feb 1 that retail stores in China will be closed until 24:00 on February 9 based on recent public health and prevention considerations. Now it seems that date is going to be delayed as the Coronavirus situation is as severe as before.
Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's Head of People, said in an email to Apple employees that Apple is working to reopen Apple's corporate offices and contact centers next week, and is "actively working" to reopen retail stores at a date that "will be determined next week."
Health protocols, local restrictions around public spaces, and additional cleaning have factored in to Apple's decision to delay store reopening, she said.
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