After Apple, Samsung closes China store due to coronavirus

After Apple temporarily closed all 42 of its stores in mainland China due to the coronavirus outbreak, Samsung is making a similar move. The company will temporarily shut down its largest Experience Store in the country located in Shanghai, according to a WeChat Post on Sunday.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, tech companies have been scrambling to close stores and offices in the country. Google confirmed that it’s temporarily closing all its offices in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It’s also suspending non-essential travel to mainland China, along with Facebook. Tesla’s new factory in Shanghai, which delivered its first China-made Model 3 last month, is currently shut down under government order.

Samsung announced on Friday that it will donate 30 million yuan (US$4.3 million) and protective medical gear to help fight the epidemic, joining local tech companies in donations. The deadly outbreak, which has so far taken more than 360 lives, is likely to hurt global smartphone brands as shoppers stay indoors, supply chains are disrupted and manufacturing workers stay away from factories, according to analysts.