Earlier this year, Apple shut down its retail stores all across the globe in light of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the company has started reopening some stores depending on current statistics and trends.
And it sounds like Apple may be ready to start reopening some of the stores it had to shut down again due to the spread of COVID-19. In a report from Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly considering moving forward with reopening stores it had previously shut down for a second time in the United States, so that could be several stores in states like Colorado, California, Alabama, and others.
The report indicates that Apple has informed employees at its retail stores they should expect imminent reopening. However, at the time of publication it remains unknown which stores, and in which states, will be reopened.
Apple began reopening some of its retail stores in March of this year. Due to the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus, the company was forced to shut down the stores again in an effort to stop the spread.
As is par for the course with these newly reopened stores, there will be new safety rules in place. That will start with masks. The company will require all customers wear a mask while visiting a store. Apple will also be limiting the number of customers in a store at any given time. Apple will also be implementing temperature checks before a customer can enter, too.
The timing is certainly noteworthy. We’re about to wrap up August, and we may have already seen a hint of a potential September iPhone event. And while Apple has already confirmed the iPhone 12 will see a slight launch delay, getting physical stores reopened is important. Of course, Apple will continue to look at local trends regarding the coronavirus, and if an area still trends downward in crucial stats, it stands to reason Apple won’t reopen stores there.
We will have to wait and see which stores Apple chooses in the near future.