Apple will now require staff and customers, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, to wear masks at most of its US stores. According to a Bloomberg report, they are bringing back the company’s requirement previously removed in June. The rule will be put into effect from this Thursday.
On Wednesday, Apple headquarters in California informed all the visitors to wear masks indoors irrespective of their vaccination status as the risk of the delta virus upends.
In a memo obtained by Bloomberg, Apple informed,
“After carefully reviewing the latest CDC recommendations, and analyzing the health and safety data for your local area, we are updating our guidance on face masks for your store.”
It further added,
“Starting July 29, face masks will be required in store for customers and team members — even if they’re vaccinated.”
Apple has maintained a reputation during the Covid-19 pandemic for making decisions about where it is deemed safe to operate its retail stores, sometimes even ahead of public health orders.
While in talks with CNBC, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the company could push back its plan to call workers from September to October.
“We are monitoring things daily to really conclude whether that is the right answer or not,” Cook said.
The move comes after COVID-19 cases start to rise in most parts of the country and when the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised people who are already vaccinated to wear masks indoors in public ‘if you are in the area of high transmission.”
As far as sales are concerned, Apple has continued to top the charts. According to Cook, sales rose 36% on an annual basis when the quarter ended in June.
In a similar response, Google has also said that it would require all the employees to be vaccinated before returning to the office. The company also delayed its return to the physical office from September to October 18.