More Apple Stores in the US are closing due to COVID-19 outbreaks
Apple has begun closing more stores in the US and Canada due to the spread of COVID-19 among its staff members.
Bloomberg reported that the tech giant closed seven Apple Stores in Miami, Palm Beach, Atlanta, Houston, Ohio, and New Hampshire. Stores in Miami, Maryland, Ottawa, and Texas were also closed earlier.
According to their company policy, stores are usually shut down when 10% of their staff have tested positive for the virus. These spikes occur as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the Omicron variant has become the dominant strain in the US.
"We regularly monitor conditions, and we will adjust our health measures to support the well-being of customers and employees,” Apple told Bloomberg 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.”
In response to the new variant, the company reinstated its mask policy and delayed its plans to resume office work for employees.
To continue serving customers on the last few days before Christmas, Apple started offering free two-hour delivery on some products to help reduce crowds in stores.