New Delhi: Due to rising Covid cases in the United States, customers at Apple stores in the country will be required to wear face masks to shop, according to media reports.
Earlier, Apple's mandate was only for people visiting US stores in certain regions. After Apple's announcement on Tuesday, the company will require all shoppers to wear masks at the company's stores, irrespective of whether their states have mandates or not.
Due to rising public concerns because of the emergence of the Omicron variant, the reinstatement of the mask mandate may raise questions about its possible impact on the holiday shopping season.
An Apple spokesperson said in a statement that the company regularly monitors conditions and will adjust the health measures in stores to support the well-being of customers and employees. The spokesperson said that Apple will require all customers to join their team members in wearing masks while visiting the stores.
In response to the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, Apple closed all of its stores. Earlier this year, the stores opened, with staff wearing masks and designated sanitation areas for customers. Apple has also emphasised on customer pickups via online purchases instead of in-store shopping, and has increased the amount of space for social distancing.
Last week, a store in Texas was closed, after several employees tested positive for Covid-19, NBC news reported. At least 22 of its employees tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This happened immediately after the Black Friday sale. The store remained shut from December 8 to December 12.
California, where Apple has its headquarters, has imposed a mask mandate that starts Wednesday and will last for a month.