The French Apple news site by the name of MacGeneration obtained a message sent by Apple's head of Retail Deidre O'Brien to Apple Retail teams in China with an update on situation regarding the conronavirus. The latest that Apple's CEO floated on this issue was that plants and stores could open in and around February tenth. The message from O'Brien is well in-line with Cook's statements. The exception would be that Apple's goal is to gradually get the stores fully back to normal over the course of a few weeks.  

"Team, I want to thank every one of you for the care, flexibility and spirit you have shown over the past few weeks. Around the world, the entire Apple family stands committed to helping our colleagues, communities, suppliers, partners and customers in China as they care for their health and return to daily life. Apple's support for the global coronavirus response is broad and ongoing, including our donation to the public health effort.

Since my last note, we have been in constant consultation with public health experts, government authorities and our teams and leaders in China. In light of those conversations, I want to share new information about Apple's workplaces.

We are working toward reopening Apple's Corporate Offices and Contact Centers in China next week. We recognize that personal movement and travel restrictions are ongoing and schools are closed in many places, and managers will be working with their teams to offer additional support. You will receive a follow up communication shortly with more information.

Apple's Retail Stores are actively working to reopen at a date that will be determined next week. Additional cleaning, health protocols and local restrictions around public spaces will factor into this decision. Retail teams will receive updates from their managers on the opening date for their store and on other supportive steps we are taking.

Individual business leaders will be reaching out to you soon with more information relevant to your work. In addition to your manager, your People Business Partner and People Support are your resource for any questions you may have. To stay up to date with Apple's efforts, please continue to check the dedicated coronavirus page we've created on the People site.

As we work together to gradually resume work over the next few weeks, your well-being is our first priority. We are deeply grateful to everyone for facing this challenging period with the utmost empathy and understanding.

Deirdre"

The yellow highlighting for emphasis was added by Patently Apple. You could read the full MacGeneration report here.

Yesterday a Patently Apple report stated that we wouldn't cover the hype surrounding the coronavirus but would report on statements made by Apple that updated the situation.