Apple temporarily shuts 18 retail outlets in UK

The iPhone maker had already closed 20 of its 38 UK stores over the past fortnight

People wearing face masks wait in a queue outside Apple store in Tokyo. Getty

Apple temporarily closed 18 retail outlets in the UK as a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases forced the government to impose a third lockdown.

The technology company had already closed 20 of its 38 UK stores over the past fortnight.

"We are temporarily closed. Shop online with free, contactless delivery and visit Apple Support for help with products and services. We look forward to welcoming you again as soon as it's possible," the company said on its UK website.

The company’s shares fell by 2.47% to $129.41 on Monday.

Apple has only allowed customers into UK stores with a prior appointment since November.

The UK tightened movement restrictions on Monday after the government conceded that the new variant of Covid-19 was beyond control.

Scotland’s devolved government also announced stay-at-home orders on Monday until the end of January to arrest the spread of the highly-transmissible strain.

“For the safety of our customers and colleagues, all orders are currently shipping with contactless next-day delivery. This means that your delivery driver may ask for verbal confirmation from a safe distance instead of a written signature. Orders that don’t require a signature will be left at your door,” Apple said.

“Convenient pickup is also available. At checkout, simply choose to send your order to a pickup location near you,” it added.

Apple said in December that it is temporarily shutting all of its 53 stores in California after Covid-19 cases rose.

Most of the open outlets in the US are limited to storefront pick-up of online orders.

Last year, Apple closed its stores in China as the pandemic struck but reopened them by March. The iPhone maker also temporarily shut down more than 460 shops globally after the pandemic spread.