Apple is re-closing four more of its Apple Stores in Melbourne, Australia as coronavirus cases spike again in the region.
Apple Chadstone, Apple Southland, Apple Doncaster, and Apple Fountain Gate will all be temporarily closing down, along with Apple Highpoint, which closed its doors last week. Australian Apple Stores began reopening two months ago, after having been shuttered since March 14.
Australia has had a relatively small number of confirmed coronavirus cases. At the time the stores reopened in May, there have been 6,894 confirmed cases and 97 deaths. Today, that number has risen to 8,886 cases and 106 deaths, according to official stats. Those are still low figures for a country with a population of 24 million.
Apple Stores closing in Melbourne due to coronavirus
However, the state of Victoria has recently suffered an increase of cases. On Tuesday, there was a new peak of 191 cases, the Guardian notes. As a result, a six-week lockdown has been ordered. Deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth said that this stage three lockdown is crucial to stop further transmission in the community.
In a stage three lockdown, people must not leave their homes for non-essential reasons. Buying groceries, work and education that can’t be carried out from home, medical care and limited exercise are the only exceptions.
Australia isn’t the only place where Apple has had to re-shutter stores after re-opening them. In the United States, Apple has had to re-close almost 80 stores across 14 states. Apple also had to temporarily close some stores in the U.S. shortly after reopening due to protects across the United States.
Via: 9to5Mac
