Starbucks closes 2,000 stores in China over coronavirus outbreak
 
 
In response to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, Starbucks has closed more than 2,000 stores in China.
The flu-like virus originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, and there are more than 4,500 confirmed cases; at least 130 people have died. Starbucks is the world's largest coffee chain, and China is the company's biggest growth market, making up 10 percent of its global revenue, Reuters reports. There are 4,292 Starbucks locations in China, and the stores that are staying open have revised operating hours.
The company does expect this to temporarily affect its finances. Due to its strong quarterly earnings, Starbucks had planned on giving an update on its 2020 financial forecast, but that has been delayed because of the outbreak, Reuters says.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
- 
 Testosterone therapy in women highlights the lack of women’s health research Testosterone therapy in women highlights the lack of women’s health researchThe explainer There is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women 
- 
 Magazine solutions - November 7, 2025 Magazine solutions - November 7, 2025Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 7, 2025 
- 
 Magazine printables - November 7, 2025 Magazine printables - November 7, 2025Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 7, 2025 
- 
 Warner Bros. explores sale amid Paramount bids Warner Bros. explores sale amid Paramount bidsSpeed Read The media giant, home to HBO and DC Studios, has received interest from multiple buying parties 
- 
 Gold tops $4K per ounce, signaling financial unease Gold tops $4K per ounce, signaling financial uneaseSpeed Read Investors are worried about President Donald Trump’s trade war 
- 
 Electronic Arts to go private in record $55B deal Electronic Arts to go private in record $55B dealspeed read The video game giant is behind ‘The Sims’ and ‘Madden NFL’ 
- 
 New York court tosses Trump's $500M fraud fine New York court tosses Trump's $500M fraud fineSpeed Read A divided appeals court threw out a hefty penalty against President Trump for fraudulently inflating his wealth 
- 
 Trump said to seek government stake in Intel Trump said to seek government stake in IntelSpeed Read The president and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan reportedly discussed the proposal at a recent meeting 
- 
 US to take 15% cut of AI chip sales to China US to take 15% cut of AI chip sales to ChinaSpeed Read Nvidia and AMD will pay the Trump administration 15% of their revenue from selling artificial intelligence chips to China 
- 
 NFL gets ESPN stake in deal with Disney NFL gets ESPN stake in deal with DisneySpeed Read The deal gives the NFL a 10% stake in Disney's ESPN sports empire and gives ESPN ownership of NFL Network 
- 
 Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B dealSpeed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung 
