#Apple shutters 11 recently-opened stores as coronavirus cases surge

Apple first closed its stores worldwide for two weeks on March 4 before extending the closure “indefinitely” on March 17. The iPhone-maker began reopening locations in May.

In late May, it said it planned to reopen about 100 US stores, although many just limited to curbside pickup, as lockdown restrictions began to ease. But coronavirus cases continue to rise in the US, where close to 120,00 people have been declared dead from the virus.

Apple has also recently said that it would be reopening 10 of its New York City stores, including its global flagship store on Fifth Avenue, as the city enters Phase 2 of its effort to reopen the economy.

Visitors to the stores that remain open are required to “practice additional steps for the health of employees and customers,” Apple has said, “including temperature checks, face coverings and social distancing.”

Shares of Apple were down 1.2 percent Friday afternoon, at $347.68.