Apple Reopens All 270 Retail Stores in the United States

[_Refurbished_]

With a rapid uptick in available vaccines coming, COVID is done. I’m not talking about eradication, but in terms of the massive impact is has stapled into our society. Everything will be opened by June, including Disneyland along with modified concerts and other similar events.

 

[planteater]

I'm not going to judge anyone either way on this... but here is an observation which may be pertinent: when I went to get my Covid vaccine this morning, the workers appeared to all be wearing two cloth masks, one right over the other. So... two?

I’d probably wear two as well in that situation. Thank you to all health care workers.

 

[thadoggfather]

though I favor stores being open and let the individual decide if they want to cower in fear 24/7 and lock themselves away in their homes without ever coming up for air,

I think the timeline for shutting everything down vs. re-opening has proven to be arbitrary

I recall getting a band for my friend just before Christmas, and later trading in a laptop after Christmas - went from I could look at iPhones and stuff at the tables to set up booths with plexiglass between me and the employee like it was a Western Union transaction, and waiting outside the standalone store in the cold for me to get to the front of the line

zero reason for things to regress so significantly week over week

 

[Bazooka-joe]

jeez what is wrong with America. In the UK our vaccine program is among the top three in the world with over a third of the country vaccinated already with their first dose and we’re not opening non-essential retail yet

 

[alfonsog]

Everything's been open here in Florida since last Autumn. Europeans need to realize we don't have the social safety net that you have, even during a pandemic, and we had 5,500 new cases just yesterday in Florida. Every restaurant and bar in my area has been completely full including my own. Florida has had 30,851 covid deaths; China has only had 4,636 covid deaths. I've known 20 people that had covid and recovered, ages range from 8-75. My 94 year old grandmother and 74 year old mother haven't been vaccinated yet. 40+% of young people in this area say they won't get the vaccine. I know my family in Italy don't understand why we are open.

 

[Williesleg]

It’s simple. When you’re out and about, wear a mask and keep your distance. Can’t hurt.

From the CDC and Dr. Falsie, masks don't prevent you from getting it, they just help if you've got it, you won't easily spread it. Only effective way for you to not get it with a mask is having an n95 mask, those are pretty much impossible to get now.

 

[Attirex]

The pandemic is over!@!!!!!!!!!!!!!n nnn

 

[Hitmanbbq59]

Cases aren't actually down, they just changed the testing sensitivity back in late January.
Cases will be down for real once we're well into May or June, same as last year. Highly irresponsible for Apple to put profits ahead of public health.

Or, don’t go out if you don’t feel safe in stores.

 

[contacos]

*basically all of Europe, not just France. In Germany for example everything and I mean eeeeeeeverything has been closed since November / December

 

[Charlesrfinal]

i say FINALLY.

Yeah there are some that will be afraid to go, but there are over 50mil vaccinated and over 100mil that have had it.

I’ve used the pandemic to travel cheaply on my vacation time and never had a day where I didn’t go to the office.

As someone healthy under 45 w/ 99.989% chance of survival, I’ll take that and when I need an Apple product I’ll go to the store.

No reason for me to be afraid, I will catch it and get over it. For those that are, stay in wear your mask if you feel it helps you.

 

[Williesleg]

Do you have a citation for this? Seems unlikely that testing sensitivity changed everywhere at once...

Unless you have severe risk factors, or someone you know has severe risk factors, or someone you encounter later in a grocery store has sever risk factors, or someone in the family of someone you encounter later in a grocery store has severe risk factors, or...

Disease tranmission is a community issue not one of personal fear.

Genetic Variants May Lead to False Negatives with SARS-CoV-2 Molecular

Laboratories should expect some false negative results because the SARS-CoV-2 virus can mutate over time and not be detected.

www.fda.gov

 

[iamgalt]

Cases aren't actually down, they just changed the testing sensitivity back in late January.
Cases will be down for real once we're well into May or June, same as last year. Highly irresponsible for Apple to put profits ahead of public health.

Maybe Apple is opening stores back up so the people that work in those stores can once again be employed.

 

[now i see it]

And the next time someone sneezes inside a store they're all gong to close down again

 

[Analog Kid]

Genetic Variants May Lead to False Negatives with SARS-CoV-2 Molecular

Laboratories should expect some false negative results because the SARS-CoV-2 virus can mutate over time and not be detected.

www.fda.gov

Thanks.

So, no. The decline since January is real.

If you read the statement, 3 tests are discussed in regards to potential impacts from mutations. 2 of those tests look at multiple sequences and the notice specifically says “the overall test sensitivity should not be impacted”. The third test only checks a single sequence and could be impacted if a mutation happens in that sequence, but the notice doesn’t indicate that a mutation has happened there and states that “the impact does not appear to be significant”. (Emphasis as written by FDA).

At most there is one of many tests that might have reduced sensitivity to a small fraction of variants if they evolve a mutation in a specific place but even that doesn’t appear to have happened.

Please revise your earlier comment to avoid spreading bad information.

 

[Williesleg]

Thanks.

So, no. The decline since January is real.

If you read the statement, 3 tests are discussed in regards to potential impacts from mutations. 2 of those tests look at multiple sequences and the notice specifically says “the overall test sensitivity should not be impacted”. The third test only checks a single sequence and could be impacted if a mutation happens in that sequence, but the notice doesn’t indicate that a mutation has happened there and states that “the impact does not appear to be significant”. (Emphasis as written by FDA).

At most there is one of many tests that might have reduced sensitivity to a small fraction of variants if they evolve a mutation in a specific place but even that doesn’t appear to have happened.

Please revise your earlier comment to avoid spreading bad information.

You stopped reading too soon, continue to the end.

 

[Analog Kid]

No reason for me to be afraid, I will catch it and get over it. For those that are, stay in wear your mask if you feel it helps you.

You will catch it, transmit it, and get over it. Why do people keep ignoring their personal responsibility for the infection of others?

I repeat: it’s not about you, it’s about transmission of disease through a community of which you are a part. You are essentially declaring your right to trade gunfire on the street with other like minded people because you think your body armor will protect you— but neglecting the fact that others on the street are not equally protected.

 

[carestudio]

I wonder how they'll keep everything clean and covid-free. I'm still afraid to go anywhere in the middle of this pandemic.

same here

 

[eatrains]

i say FINALLY.

Yeah there are some that will be afraid to go, but there are over 50mil vaccinated and over 100mil that have had it.

I’ve used the pandemic to travel cheaply on my vacation time and never had a day where I didn’t go to the office.

As someone healthy under 45 w/ 99.989% chance of survival, I’ll take that and when I need an Apple product I’ll go to the store.

No reason for me to be afraid, I will catch it and get over it. For those that are, stay in wear your mask if you feel it helps you.

Your selfish attitude is why we have 500,000 dead Americans.

 

[Analog Kid]

You stopped reading too soon, continue to the end.

I did not. You’re going to have to give me a quote, I’m not seeing anything in that notice that suggests any impact on the national case counts.

Please correct your earlier post.

 

[technole]

It makes sense, since you already need a Genius Grove appointment to really get anything done quick at an Apple store in normal times. So making the stores for appointments and pick up is good.

Plus if you really need to buy something can just open the Apple Store app and buy for pickup before you get there kind of thing.

Also I'm fully vaccinated, let me in!!!!

 

[macsound1]

I wonder how they'll keep everything clean and covid-free. I'm still afraid to go anywhere in the middle of this pandemic.

My local Apple store has been heavily modified to feature 4 express storefronts, immediately inside the door.

The entire remainder of the 14,997 square feet is closed off to guests.

Everyone waits outside under tents, distanced, only 4 parties allowed inside at a time. Apple staff is outside checking what people want to do before they're let in.

 

[macsound1]

From the CDC and Dr. Falsie, masks don't prevent you from getting it, they just help if you've got it, you won't easily spread it. Only effective way for you to not get it with a mask is having an n95 mask, those are pretty much impossible to get now.

kn95 masks are super easy to get. Home depot, staples, etc. While they don't have US "approval" they do protect the incoming air you are breathing, vs the cloth masks which just prevent your exhale from spreading.

 

[yaxomoxay]

kn95 masks are super easy to get. Home depot, staples, etc. While they don't have US "approval" they do protect the incoming air you are breathing, vs the cloth masks which just prevent your exhale from spreading.

True, but it should be mentioned that KN95 (or N95) masks are VERY difficult to wear correctly without proper training, which could lead to a false sense of safety, leading to dangerous behavior.

 

[Williesleg]

I did not. You’re going to have to give me a quote, I’m not seeing anything in that notice that suggests any impact on the national case counts.

Please correct your earlier post.

"The FDA is working with sponsors whose authorized tests are impacted to update their labeling to reflect potential changes in performance of their tests, and to consider modifications to the test if needed."

The implication is that they are trying to reduce false negatives, while in fact, this adjustment they did specifically addressed the cycle threshold in a negative way, reducing the amount of positive cases.

You can see the direct result here:

United States COVID - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer

United States Coronavirus update with statistics and graphs: total and new cases, deaths per day, mortality and recovery rates, current active cases, recoveries, trends and timeline.

www.worldometers.info

The directive was released January 8th, and you can see from the "daily new cases" they began to artificially fall starting January 9th.

Remember, everyone agrees we're in the middle of a pandemic. The only way out safely is to follow the science. Practice social distancing, wear a mask, reduce exposure, wash your hands. But ignoring the evidence or trying to cover it up will only lead to more death. Trying to censor the truth is a dangerous thing. Book burners were never on the right side of history. Same with trying to silence science and the truth on the internet.

 

[iGeneo]

I'm sure Apple is taking a cautious approach and the proper measures will be inplace in every store.

We are NOT past this.. I'm cautiously optimistic, but these variants are concerning. Also, the positive case counts have flattened, no longer dropping. Hopefully we all get vaccinated when it is available.

* Also.. please do not use FL as an example. First off they have been cooking their books, especially around election time. Secondly their per capita rates are mid-pack, and much worse than CA.