I can’t get an exchange or refund for a brand new faulty iPad Pro !!!!!

I bought a brand new iPad Pro directly from Apple and within 7 weeks of ownership the screen is faulty. I booked a genius session at the local Apple store which is closed for normal trading due to COVID and was told that indeed my brand new iPad Pro is faulty. I asked for an exchange for another new iPad Pro but I am only being offered a refurbished one even though the shop itself admits I am within my legal writes to get a new iPad. The reason they gave me for not being able to give me what I am legally entitled to is that as the shop is closed due to COVID they are unable to do any returns. This I therefore feel is extremely bad customer service because if I wanted to buy a refurbished unit I certainly would not have paid full price for it and all I am left with is having to wait until such time as their store may reopen but there is no indication when this may happen and I am very concerned that at that point whenever it may be I will have a job trying to then get what I was legally entitled to at the time I reported the fault. Until then I have no choice but to hold on to a faulty iPad that is not fit for purpose . I would therefore love to know if there is any other way to get an exchange of a faulty but brand new iPOad pro for another NEW iPad Pro ?