Apple to close retail stores worldwide until March 27

Apple has announced the closure of all its retail outlets, except those in Greater China, for the next two weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

"We will be closing all of our retail stores outside of Greater China until March 27," Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed in a letter posted on the company's website.

"In all of our offices, we are moving to flexible work arrangements worldwide," he added. "That means team members should work remotely if their job allows."

It comes as Apple reopened all 42 of its branded stores in China on Friday.

So far, more than 138,000 people have been infected globally and over 5,000 have died.