Apple said to have postponed March launch event due to Covid-19 risks

Apple has reportedly postponed the March launch event due to the worsening situation of the Covid-19 outbreak in the US.

A source at Apple told Cult of Mac that there are a number of reasons that led to the company postponing the March event. The Santa Clara County order, which bans mass gatherings of 1,000 people or more between March 11 and April 1, is said to be a "major factor".

Apple executives had concerns over ensuring "social distancing" at the event, especially when people are sitting close to each other in a confined space.

In addition, continued delays in production of two primary products and not having sufficient stocks to sell after the event were part of "multiple circumstances" leading to the postponement.

Apple has drawn up a preliminary schedule for releasing new products. However, these plans could change from "one day to the next".

Earlier last month, Bloomberg claimed that the iPhone 9 is still on track to launch in March. However, recent reports have suggested that the plan could change as component orders for the new device are delayed from the first quarter to the next, and Apple is facing a shortage of replacement iPhones.

The Bank of America reported yesterday that the launch of the iPhone 9 is expected to be delayed.

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This article was first published in Hardware Zone.