Apple closes eight US stores as Covid-19 case numbers mount

Company typically shuts down a retail outlet when about 10 per cent of staff members test positive for Covid-19

Apple said that all its workers are tested regularly and that it reopens stores only once each employee has been tested again. Reuters

Apple temporarily closed at least eight retail stores in the US and Canada over the past day as Covid-19 cases surged among the public and employees.

Since Tuesday, Apple has closed outlets at: Dadeland in Miami, The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach, Lenox Square in Atlanta, Cumberland Mall in Atlanta, Highland Village in Houston, Summit Mall in Ohio, Pheasant Lane in New Hampshire and Sainte-Catherine in Montreal.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, typically shuts down a retail site when about 10 per cent of staff members test positive for Covid-19.

Such closures have become increasingly routine in recent weeks. Before the latest round, Apple shut and reopened eight additional locations, including stores in Texas, Maryland, Hawaii, Ohio and Ottawa. The closures typically lasted a few days each. A ninth closed store – Lincoln Road in Miami Beach – is still shut. In August, Apple also temporarily closed a location in Charleston, South Carolina.

“We regularly monitor conditions, and we will adjust our health measures to support the well-being of customers and employees,” Apple said in a statement. “We remain committed to a comprehensive approach for our teams that combines regular testing with daily health checks, employee and customer masking, deep cleaning and paid sick leave.”

Apple has previously said that all its workers are tested regularly and that it reopens stores only once each employee is tested again.

As Covid-19 case numbers and the Omicron variant surge across the world, Apple has started to limit occupancy in its retail stores to promote social distancing. It has also restored its mask mandate across all US stores and has again put in plexiglass dividers to protect employees.

At the same time, Apple added an incentive to order online. On Wednesday, the company introduced free two-hour delivery for its products in “most metro areas”. The deal runs through December 24. That shipping option normally costs $9.