As the coronavirus continues to spread in Santa Clara County, where many Apple offices are located, Apple is now encouraging employees in the area to be able to work from home today. Apple has asked employees to do so as an “extra precaution” and working from home is a recommendation, not a requirement, because some employees may be working in the office. Santa Clara County has 20 known cases of coronavirus, and several other suspected cases. Cupertino, home to Apple Park and Infinity Loops, is part of the county.
Employers are also required to suspend unnecessary employee travel that Apple has already done and to cancel large face-to-face meetings. It’s unclear what Apple plans to do with WWDC, which usually takes place in San Jose in June. In the past few years, Apple has announced that WWDC will be scheduled for mid-March, so we’ll soon hear about whether WWDC will be held or whether Apple will replace some digital event. Apple’s stores in the Bay Area remain open, even though company employees can work from home. But Apple has implemented a “deep cleansing” agreement to protect retail workers and customers from the virus.
