Apple plans to dial back mask mandate in U.S. stores
Apple will soon end the mask requirement for customers in many retail locations in the United States, starting on November 5.
Roughly 100 Apple Stores will drop their mask mandate on Friday, gradually expanding to more locations in the coming days. The new policy will apply to customers regardless of vaccination status.
The company cites falling coronavirus cases and increased vaccination as the reason for the change.
"After careful review, the Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) team, along with leadership, have determined it's safe to update our guidance on masks for customers in your store," according to a memo seen by Bloomberg. "The positive trends in vaccinations, testing, and case counts for your area have made this change possible."
Stores in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Connecticut will be the first to loosen mask guidelines. However, the mask mandate will continue in regions such as Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area, where local governments require masks indoors.
Apple employees will still be required to wear a mask for the foreseeable future. The memo points out that "team members have longer interactions in store and are in close proximity throughout the day."
The memo also notes that Apple reserves the right to monitor local guidance and reinstate mandates should the company find it necessary.
On June 15, 2021, Apple had ended its initial mask mandate, allowing vaccinated customers to enter stores without wearing a mask.
The decision was short lived, as the Cupertino-tech giant reinstated masking requirements a month later.
Read on AppleInsider
Roughly 100 Apple Stores will drop their mask mandate on Friday, gradually expanding to more locations in the coming days. The new policy will apply to customers regardless of vaccination status.
The company cites falling coronavirus cases and increased vaccination as the reason for the change.
"After careful review, the Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) team, along with leadership, have determined it's safe to update our guidance on masks for customers in your store," according to a memo seen by Bloomberg. "The positive trends in vaccinations, testing, and case counts for your area have made this change possible."
Stores in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Connecticut will be the first to loosen mask guidelines. However, the mask mandate will continue in regions such as Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area, where local governments require masks indoors.
Apple employees will still be required to wear a mask for the foreseeable future. The memo points out that "team members have longer interactions in store and are in close proximity throughout the day."
The memo also notes that Apple reserves the right to monitor local guidance and reinstate mandates should the company find it necessary.
On June 15, 2021, Apple had ended its initial mask mandate, allowing vaccinated customers to enter stores without wearing a mask.
The decision was short lived, as the Cupertino-tech giant reinstated masking requirements a month later.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Apple should set high safety standards for itself and its customers. Apple shouldn't be satisfied with some minimal legal requirement for masks. I'm sure that Apple's best customers are the ones who are concerned about safety, are vaccinated, and are willing to wear masks, but this isn't an economic argument. It's simply a question about what the right thing to do is.
Actually you seem rather triggered so I'd say you care as well.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/these-states-have-the-best-covid-19-vaccination-rates
For older age groups and other high risk groups, it's probably wise to take other precautions in addition to the vaccine, ideally not visiting a store until infection rates are down but at least keeping distance, masking, not having conversations. The infection rates spiked massively in November last year all the way through February, hopefully the vaccinations will prevent another wave like that this year. Everybody was wearing masks and distancing in 2020 and stores had restrictions but cases shot up globally so we're depending on the vaccinations.
I wondered if they could install better air filtering systems in stores. Given that it's infected particles in the air do something like install giant fans in the stores pulling the air either up to the ceiling or down to the floor. Even just air purifiers at the tables should help a bit as they can prevent particles staying in the air between different groups of visitors:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-air-purifiers-particles/
All the major new outlets even say as such. Here is one:
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59077036
"Individuals who have had two vaccine doses can be just as infectious as those who have not been jabbed."
So this is why I still wear masks even at stores and gyms even though mandates have been lifted in my area and yes, I have got my 2 Pfizers since April. I want to hear it is low to non-existent anymore before I stop wearing a mask.
Thanks for saving me money Apple and spreading more COVD so that we can get to herd immunity faster 😆
Appreciating another person's responsible actions is not "imposing" anything.
Also, lol at calling GeorgeBMac, the forum's grandpa "kiddo".