Sprint is closing down a majority of its retail stores in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sprint closing down 71% of retail stores due to coronavirus
The fourth-largest carrier (and new T-Mobile acquisition) announced today on its blog that it is closing down 71% of “all but its most highly critical retail stores.” The store closures are due to coronavirus and the demand for social distancing from US President Donald Trump. The retail stores closing include those in indoor malls, all Puerto Rico locations, and all Walgreens Sprint Express locations. Sprint is leaving some retail stores open for a large number of employees. The carrier is also leaving some service locations open for customers who need phone repairs. 29% of Sprint stores will remain open, but that’s a very small number than before. It’s slightly more than 25% of its retail stores across the country.
Closing retail stores: part of social distancing
Coronavirus is a disease that spreads. In light of how the virus works, sick persons can pass it to others without showing any symptoms themselves. In crowds of 100 or more, there could be at least 6 people who fall victim at any given event. Its silent infection rate and rapid spread into communities are what make it so dangerous.
Social distancing is what happens when people isolate themselves in order to avoid getting sick. There is no cure for COVID-19 (coronavirus) at the moment. There aren’t nearly enough coronavirus testing kits, which means that infected persons could go days or weeks before getting the proper diagnosis. In the time it takes a person to become eligible for coronavirus testing, he or she could infect others around them. Since coronavirus is a threat to all who come into contact with an infected person, staying indoors, at home, away from large crowds and traveling persons is a wise decision.
Social distancing is not fun, but it’s the last alternative in what has become a pandemic. The Washington Post said last month that COVID-19 has “pandemic potential.” Its outbreak to now over 197,000 people and 164 countries, with 7,954 deaths, qualifies the disease as a pandemic.
Sprint follows other top US carriers in store closures
Sprint is following in the footsteps of other major US carriers in shutting down a majority of retail stores. Verizon and T-Mobile are shutting down the majority of their stores as well. AT&T is telling employees to work from home if they can, though the wireless giant hasn’t said it is closing down stores in light of the pandemic.
Tech giants Google and Microsoft are joining others such as Facebook and Twitter in encouraging their staff to work remotely for at least a few weeks. Microsoft says it will continue to pay its employees. Google is encouraging its North American and beyond employees to work remotely after two of its employees (in Zurich and Bangalore) contracted COVID-19 recently.