In an unanticipated move, Apple has decided to temporarily close nearly all of its brick-and-mortar stores in light of the coronavirus pandemic — the first international retailer to do so.

Apple locations worldwide will be closed for two weeks, until March 27, except for those in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, where the spread of COVID-19 has slowed substantially.

As of 2018, the tech giant was operating 506 retail stores in 25 countries, including 29 in Canada.

While everyone was buying all the 🧻, I should have gone to the Apple Store and bought all that stock. All Apple Stores are closed GLOBALLY -- including the 3 in Metro Vancouver -- (except Hong Kong and Taiwan) are closed for the next 2 weeks (at least). #COVID19Vancouver #apple pic.twitter.com/56IeyYefZW

— Casey Lau (@casey_lau) March 14, 2020

As major attractions, museums, sports arenas, and even community spaces like libraries and schools around the globe are shuttered for fear of facilitating community spread of the novel virus, it makes sense that the chain would close the doors of its notoriously bustling and often-hectic locations.

"The most effective way to minimize risk of the virus’s transmission is to reduce density and maximize social distance," a release about the closures on Apple's website reads. "As rates of new infections continue to grow in other places, we’re taking additional steps to protect our team members and customers."

Apple's CEO Tim Cook adds in the statement that he has been "inspired by the humanity and determination from all corners of our global community" and that Apple will be thinking and acting "anew."

"That’s always how Apple has chosen to meet big challenges. And it’s how we’ll rise to meet this one, too."

Major brands like Patagonia have taken similar measures in the last 24 hours, even shutting down their website indefinitely.

Glad I dropped my #MacBookPro off at an #Apple store yesterday ... Now it’s just a matter of getting it back 🤔 https://t.co/bf5IMDidoJ

— Anthony Fanucci, PharmD (@AnthonyFanucci) March 14, 2020

Let's just hope that all of our Apple products — which we may be relying on now more than ever — stay as healthy as we do during this outbreak.