Apple retail manager Deidre O'Brien posted on the Company's website a letter outlining the manner in which it plans to resume operations in its retail stores safely. As COVID-19 expanded around the world, Apple shut down all of their stores outside Greater China in March, and all of them reopened this same month, though Apple is still taking cautious steps elsewhere.

 

"We are committed to reopening only when we are sure that we are able to return safe and safely to serve clients from our shops," writes O'Brien. "We look at all available data — including individual events, short-term and long-term patterns and national and local health officers advice. These are not decisions we make — and a store opening doesn't mean we can take any more preventative action if local circumstances warrant.

 

More than 80% of Apple's 510 worldwide stores remain closed, but it expects to reopen 25 additional stores in the USA, 12 in Canada and 10 in Italy next week, reports 9to5Mac. O'Brien says that the standard of service offered varies by shop. Both shops must allow customers to make reservations at Genius Bar and receive items ordered online, but only shopping or curbside services do some give rather than customers visiting the shop themselves.

 

More than 80% of Apple's 510 worldwide stores remain closed, but it expects to reopen 25 additional stores in the USA, 12 in Canada and 10 in Italy next week, reports 9to5Mac. O'Brien says that the standard of service offered varies by shop. Both shops must allow customers to make reservations at Genius Bar and receive items ordered online, but only shopping or curbside services do some give rather than customers visiting the shop themselves.

 

O'Brien says that temperature checks will be carried out and all staff and customers will be allowed to wear side-coverings for those stores that open their doors. Apple offers coverage for consumers who do not have their own, and complies with guidelines on social isolation with a small number of people at once in the shop. "We 're based in every store on reducing the number of customers in the Genius Bar and in the entire shop and we're concentrating our energies to one-on-one personalized service," says O'Brien.

 

In Idaho, South Carolina, Alabama and Alaska Apple reopened a few US stores last week. CNBC reports that the reopenings will take place this week with a variety of California and Washington locations providing a curbside service in Florida, Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Reopening information will be updated through Apple's search tool Find a Shop.