Apple Inc decided to reopen some of stores in four U.S. states from the following week, within the first resumption of physical retail operations since the iPhone maker shuttered all U.S. stores in mid-March.
The company said it’ll open “some” stores in Alabama, Alaska, Idaho and South Carolina. Apple has two stores in both South Carolina and Alabama but didnt say which might open. Its Boise, Idaho location will open Monday, with others to follow later within the week.
Apple executives have said they’re examining local health data at the county and city level in each community where they have physical stores to decide when to reopen. Apple has locations in several U.S. states, like Texas and Georgia, where state rules would in theory allow it to reopen stores, but it’s not yet declared plans.
“Our team is constantly monitoring local heath data and government guidance, and as soon as we can safely open our stores, we will,” Apple said in a statement.
In the four states where Apple stores will reopen, new procedures are in situ the same as those in countries like South Korea, Australia and Austria, where stores have already reopened.
Customers and staffs are required to undergo temperature checks and wear masks before entering the stores, and Apple will provide a mask if customers don’t have their own. Social-distancing rules will limit the amount of shoppers within the store at just the once, which Apple said could create delays for walk-in customers.
“With many working and learning from home, our primary focus will be providing service and support,” Apple said. “We recommend, where possible, customers buy online for contactless delivery or in-store pick-up.”
Apple will still have demonstration devices for purchasers to handle within the store, but staff will clean them often, and hand sanitizer dispensers are placed in stores.
Apple earlier on Friday said it might reopen stores in Germany. the corporate started shuttering its China stores in January and reopened them by mid-March. Days later, Apple closed all stores outside People’s Republic of China because the virus moved round the globe. Stores began reopening outside the Greater China region in mid-April with its store in South Korea.
