Foxconn will not reopen its production facilities in China next week, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. In an effort to curb the coronavirus outbreak, the Chinese government has reportedly instructed Foxconn to close the factories until further notice. Now, companies such as Apple can't run their supply chains as efficiently as usual.
Serving as the largest iPhone assembler and a partner with other global entities in consumer technology, the shutdown could lead to delays in shipping products worldwide. Public health experts told Foxconn that its factories throughout China are at serious risk of spreading the infection; therefore, it's unclear if the government will allow employees to resume work anytime soon. The coronavirus continues spreading in China and the rest of the world. Additionally, the death toll is rising.
Globally, the coronavirus has infected over 34,000 people in more than two dozen countries and territories.
Local governments urged Foxconn to temporarily shutter the factories due to large numbers of employees operating side-by-side in contained areas. If one person gets infected by the coronavirus, there's a significant possibility it spreads to others at their workplace and then to the general public. Foxconn's production facilities are to remain closed indefinitely as vaccines and treatments are developed.
Apple, meanwhile, closed its corporate offices and retail stores in China but will reopen most of them on February 15. Production will take a hit, though. Assemblers and suppliers are relied on to get hardware units out in a timely manner, and their ongoing closures in China could lead to reduced availability.
Smartphones, tablets, computers, video game consoles, and other types of products are all impacted by the coronavirus' threat to production facilities. Nintendo confirmed it'll hurt the Switch's availability in Japan, and more companies expect similar issues. Also, popular brands are pulling out of Mobile World Congress. LG and Ericsson will no longer participate in the Barcelona-based trade show later this month over fears of the infection.
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