My coworkers in China confirm that people are gradually getting back to work, and I have no reason to doubt them.
The procedure seems quite interesting: Instead of lifting quarantine for everyone at once, the return to work is rolled out slowly (some %age of workers return the first day, some more the next day), so the situation can be monitored.
Apple has re-opened Apple stores and factories there, while shutting down Apple stores everywhere else. No matter how you feel about the PRC there's no reason to doubt Tim Cook.
The procedure seems quite interesting: Instead of lifting quarantine for everyone at once, the return to work is rolled out slowly (some %age of workers return the first day, some more the next day), so the situation can be monitored.