Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'It Feels to Me China is Getting Coronavirus Under Control'

Apple CEO Tim Cook is in Birmingham, Alabama today, where he spoke at an event for EdFarm, which will offer Apple's Everyone Can Code curriculum alongside civil rights education conducted through augmented reality.

timcookcoronaviruschina
Following his EdFarm speech, Cook did an interview with Fox Business. The interview is set to air in full on Friday, but in a clip shared today, Cook spoke about the impact of the coronavirus on Apple's business.

According to Cook, he believes that China is starting to get the coronavirus under control, and that he is optimistic about things returning to normal.

It feels to me that China is getting the coronavirus under control. When you look at the numbers, they're coming down day by day by day. And so I'm very optimistic there.

Cook says that Apple's suppliers in China are getting back to work and that production is ramping up.

On the supplier side, we have suppliers, you know, iPhone is built everywhere in the world. We have key components coming from the United States, we have key parts that are in China, and so on and so forth. When you look at the parts that are done in China, we have reopened factories, so the factories were able to work through the conditions of opening. They're also in ramp, so I think of this as sort of the third phase of getting back to normal and we're in phase three of the ramp mode.

In the full interview set air on Friday, Cook will comment on the possibility of the coronavirus disruptions continuing past the second quarter of the year.

Cook's comments come two weeks after Apple announced that it would not meet its revenue goals for the March quarter due to store closures in China and supply issues. Apple is expected to share more information in its next earnings call, which is scheduled for April.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: iPhone 17's 'Awe Dropping' Accessories

Friday August 29, 2025 8:12 am PDT by
Following the announcement of Apple's upcoming "Awe dropping" event, on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show we talk through all of the new accessories rumored to debut alongside the iPhone 17 lineup. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos We take a closer look at Apple's invite for "Awe dropping;" the design could hint at the iPhone 17's new thermal system with ...

Top Rated Comments

bladerunner2000 Avatar
72 months ago
Of course he'd say that when China supplies all of Apple's parts. Apple's investors are more important to him than the reality of the virus. He's an idiot.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
imom Avatar
72 months ago
Cook's feelings are clearly much more important than facts. Where have I heard that before?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smorrissey Avatar
72 months ago
You wish Cook...

This thing is barely starting...but i pray God helps us, things could turn nasty (already are for the chinese).
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Seanm87 Avatar
72 months ago

Its all mass media hysteria. Look at the stats of what ages are affected and the likelyhood of infection. Sure, certain age group (very old people) are at risk but if you ask them they mostly say - "I have other things to worry about at my age".
This thing will settle just like everything else. Its just another fear media frenzy to keep us busy.
Compare the numbers to things like Flu etc. and that will paint another picture.
Overall, this is getting silly.
How is it media hysteria when its the governments that are putting measures in place?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bladerunner2000 Avatar
72 months ago

He has a fiduciary duty to his investors. Period.
Tim Cook has no integrity.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AustinIllini Avatar
72 months ago

Maybe it is time for Apple to re-think of building all it's products in the United States.
A literal impossibility. Most of their suppliers are overseas because Americans by and large suck at manufacturing.


Tim Cook has no integrity.
Do you get to stop doing your job due to coronavirus?

Because I don't. And Tim Cook doesn't either.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)