Apple Dropping Mask Mandates for Retail and Corporate Employees

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning to drop its mask requirements for retail and corporate employees in the United States due to a decline in Covid-19 cases and a relaxation of local mandates, reports Bloomberg.

For vaccinated corporate employees, masks are now optional in regions where local indoor mask mandates have ended. Retail staff in a small number of locations have also been informed that masks will become optional starting on Friday, and as more regions do away with mask mandates, Apple will make masks optional at additional locations.

Though masks are optional for customers and employees in many locations, Apple is still recommending mask usage and providing masks upon request.

Apple in February stopped requiring customers to wear masks in many Apple Store locations across the United States in accordance with changes in local guidelines, and it reintroduced in-person Today at Apple classes this morning.

At the current time, Apple has not yet informed corporate employees of when they might be required to return to the office, but with mask mandates dropping and Google bringing workers back in April, we could hear an update from Apple in the near future.

Article Link: Apple Dropping Mask Mandates for Retail and Corporate Employees

 

[Zaft]

Hopefully this is coming to an end and will turn into an endemic.

 

[contacos]

Germany like: You need to be boostered + show a negative test, wear a N95 Mask and meet no more than 10 people at a time. What a time to be alive ?

 

[I7guy]

Hopefully this is winding down into an endemic.

 

[aesc80]

Masks totally optional, and I won't hate. Just glad to be out without a mask (vaccinated + boosted, in case you're wondering).

 

[tridley68]

It's long overdue for this thanks for getting on board Apple

 

[dontwalkhand]

FINALLY! Too bad they added the unlock with mask feature too little too late.

 

[icanhazmac]

Germany like: You need to be boostered + show a negative test, wear a N95 Mask and meet no more than 10 people at a time. What a time to be alive ?

Wait until your election cycle comes around, then things will relax.

 

[Realityck]

Though masks are optional for customers and employees in many locations, Apple is still recommending mask usage and providing masks upon request.

They are still going to play it safe. Everyone has different experiences with this all the last many months, there is no blanket trust its gone for businesses that have a 1 on 1 assistance for customers.

 

[fel10]

As an ugly person, im keeping my on.

 

[Kylo83]

What’s funny is this should of been ages ago but it took apple 2 years to add unlock with wearing a mask and it’s still not out to the public, and the pandemic is over and no where makes you wear a mask lol

 

[minik]

In Hong Kong, Apple may just closing all the retail stores mask needed or not. In WA, indoor mask requirement is still in effect till March 12.

 

[Unity451]

Oh good. I'm pretty sure that there are very few people left that are still afraid of this thing.

 

[Mr. Dee]

But I assume going into the store is by appointment still?

 

[jimbobb24]

The greatest data question is how do you know when to stop doing something that has no discernible data driven impact on outcomes? Well...now I guess. But better late than never. Thank goodness for omicron the booster everyone got that we may be done with this thing.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Congrats, Apple employees!

 

[dannyyankou]

FINALLY! Too bad they added the unlock with mask feature too little too late.

Well not necessarily, if I have a cold or something I'll wear a mask at the supermarket because I don't want to spread it to other people.

 

[zorinlynx]

I'm so thrilled to see mandates ending and things getting back to normal. There's a loud minority complaining about mandates ending but, barring another surging variant, I give them just a few months before they give in and join the rest of us who have moved on.

One thing that did change forever for me is that if I'm feeling sick I'll wear a mask out in public. That's something that I think, if it catches on, will reduce the spread of disease.

 

[ScreenSavers]

Good. I don't visit places with mask mandates.

 

[castlema]

As crowded as my local Apple store is most days I will continue to wear mine when I go in, which is not often. I have had all my shots but economic necessity says I cannot afford to get sick. I will certainly keep wearing it on trains and planes and, as other have said, if I am not feeling well I will stay home. I owe that much to my fellow humans.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7106e1.htmThe greatest data question is how do you know when to stop doing something that has no discernible data driven impact on outcomes? Well...now I guess. But better late than never. Thank goodness for omicron the booster everyone got that we may be done with this thing.

Masks work

And until this pandemic is REALLY over, I fully intend to keep wearing one every time I'm in public. All of you should too.

Also, Omicron isn't a booster, it's a potentially deadly virus. You can get a real booster at your local pharmacy. It's even free! Worked for me, I never got sick.

 

[Zaft]

Masks work

View attachment 1967487

And until this pandemic is REALLY over, I fully intend to keep wearing one every time I'm in public. All of you should too.

Also, Omicron isn't a booster, it's a potentially deadly virus. You can get a real booster at your local pharmacy. It's even free! Worked for me, I never got sick.

Just curious, do you wear a mask outside?

 

[Rocko99991]

Masks totally optional, and I won't hate. Just glad to be out without a mask (vaccinated + boosted, in case you're wondering).

We weren't.

 

[umbilical]

Masks work

View attachment 1967487

And until this pandemic is REALLY over, I fully intend to keep wearing one every time I'm in public. All of you should too.

Also, Omicron isn't a booster, it's a potentially deadly virus. You can get a real booster at your local pharmacy. It's even free! Worked for me, I never got sick.

Only an ******* don't use mask, no matter if have is it's vaccinated or not. You still can get COVID and spread over others. Pandemic is not over yet.

 

[Realityck]

Just curious, do you wear a mask outside?

It does help when the air is cold right now. Like where you are now its 41 F.