Third Street Promenade Apple store employee tests positive for COVID-19

SANTA MONICA, CA - APRIL 03: A view of the Apple Store Third Street Promenade on April 3, 2012 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Vans) (Getty Images)

An Apple store employee who works at the Third Street Promenade location in Santa Monica has tested positive for COVID-19, it was announced Friday. 

The employee tested positive late Thursday and had been on leave since March 2 in order to take care of a relative, according to the company. 

RELATED: 40 coronavirus cases in LA County after 8 new cases announced Friday

Apple said the store remains open and the store has undergone deep cleaning. All Apple sessions were canceled Friday and the store has worked to stagger Genius Bar appointments.  

"As a precaution, we also undertook an additional extensive deep clean overnight before reopening Third St. Promenade store," the company said in a statement to FOX 11. "We recognize this is a challenging and ever changing time for our global community and our thoughts are with those around the world personally affected by COVID-19 and the heroic medical professionals and researchers fighting it.”

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Apple indefinitely closed its 17 stores in Italy.

In mainland China, all Apple stores reopened Friday, Bloomberg reported. 

It was unknown if any US stores would be closed as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread across the U.S. 

RELATED: CoronavirusNOW.com, FOX launches national hub for COVID-19 news and updates.