Apple advises 12K workers to stay home as coronavirus ‘precaution’

By: Vincent B.

Apple is encouraging all employees at its headquarters to work from home to combat the spread of the coronavirus — joining other tech giants like Microsoft and Google.

The company issued a memo Friday advising its 12,000-person staff at Apple Park in Cupertino to stay remote as a “precaution” while the virus begins to spread more rapidly across the country.

The advisory came amid 20 confirmed cases of the disease in Santa Clara County. Officials there had previously asked large companies to consider letting employees to telecommute to limit close contact.

Apple has issued a similar memo for its workers in the Seattle area to work from home. It was not immediately clear how many employees have complied with the requests.

The company said last month that the virus’s spread in China could lead to iPhone shortages and missed revenue targets.