Apple Stores in Germany to Begin Reopening May 11 With Enhanced Health and Safety Measures

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that it will begin reopening its retail stores in Germany on May 11, nearly two months after they were closed due to the global health crisis.

In a statement shared with German website Macerkopf, Apple said the stores will initially be focusing on Genius Bar service and support. Enhanced health and safety measures will be implemented, such as body temperature checks prior to entry, limits on how many customers can be in the store at once, social distancing, and reduced hours of operation.

Apple operates 15 retail stores in Germany and will be posting specific hours of operation for each location on its website.

Apple closed all of its retail stores outside of the Greater China region in mid-March. The company has since started to reopen some locations, including in South Korea, Austria, and Australia. All locations in the United States remain closed.

Article Link: Apple Stores in Germany to Begin Reopening May 11 With Enhanced Health and Safety Measures

 

[newyorksole]

Not even a year into Deirdre taking over Apple Retail and she has to lead through a global pandemic Lol. Kind of crazy.

Apple will be just fine, but this must be a wild thing to have to manage and adjust to. I’m assuming these same measures will be implemented in the USA.

Going to be very interesting to see NYC and Cali Apple Stores open back up.

 

[russell_314]

I wonder how they are going to deal with the display computers and phones that have screens and keyboards touched by hundreds of people daily? Is there going to be a guy following customers around the store with a can of Clorox wipes? 😂

 

[MrGimper]

I'm in the UK and our press hold Germany up as a shining example of somewhere that "got it right" regarding COVID. Let's hope that their relatively quick relaxing of lockdown doesn't invite a second wave of infection.

 

[ka-spot]

there is no need for apple stores at all. just keep them closed (or remove the windows and let the nature in)

 

[verpeiler]

I wonder how they are going to deal with the display computers and phones that have screens and keyboards touched by hundreds of people daily? Is there going to be a guy following customers around the store with a can of Clorox wipes? 😂

I guess they will wipe the screens from time to time.

But smear infections with Corona are rare (or almost impossible, unless you eat someone elses sneeze).. and if you just wash your hands/use a cleaning wipe you'll be completely fine.

 

[russell_314]

I guess they will wipe the screens from time to time.

But smear infections with Corona are rare (or almost impossible, unless you eat someone elses sneeze).. and if you just wash your hands/use a cleaning wipe you'll be completely fine.

True but I've seen lots of people touch their face and mouth then touch something else like a keyboard. TBH I do this too at home but out in public I don't touch anything I don't absolutely have to. I've seen retail stores mark their display computers "Do not touch" to avoid any problems but I don't see Apple doing this.

 

[simonmet]

They were enforcing (handing out) masks and gloves at my local store in Sydney. Lots of lines and security managing it too.

 

[OriginalMacRat]

Enhanced health and safety measures will be implemented, such as body temperature checks prior to entry, limits on how many customers can be in the store at once, social distancing, and reduced hours of operation.

Of course with the expanded testing, we are learning that people are carrying the virus without showing any symptoms.

The early antibody tests are showing that people have been exposed and never knew nor ever felt sick.

 

[russell_314]

Of course with the expanded testing, we are learning that people are carrying the virus without showing any symptoms.

The early antibody tests are showing that people have been exposed and never knew nor ever felt sick.

That's probably why they have limits on how many customers can be in the store at once, social distancing, wearing masks, etc.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

I'm in the UK and our press hold Germany up as a shining example of somewhere that "got it right" regarding COVID. Let's hope that their relatively quick relaxing of lockdown doesn't invite a second wave of infection.

I think Corona is racist and hates certain folks like you, UK people. I mean, how come Austria and the UK have about the same numbers of infections (around 160.000), but while in my country about 20.000 people got cured and about 700 killed, it's basically the exact opposite in the UK.🤔
So in conclusion... Corona is racist!

 

[MrGimper]

I think Corona is racist and hates certain folks like you, UK people. I mean, how come Austria and the UK have about the same numbers of infections (around 160.000), but while in my country about 20.000 people got cured and about 700 killed, it's basically the exact opposite in the UK.🤔
So in conclusion... Corona is racist!

COVID IS racist, I mean in the UK it's gone nuts becuase it affects more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people than anyone else. So there, even a non-sentient virus can be racist.

 

[OverChris]

I'm in the UK and our press hold Germany up as a shining example of somewhere that "got it right" regarding COVID. Let's hope that their relatively quick relaxing of lockdown doesn't invite a second wave of infection.

There will be a second wave, I guess they only try to avoid a collapse of the health care system. Still I believe they go too fast right now. They will allow contact based sports (soccer etc) by the end of may, which is too fast in my opinion.

 

[unobtainium]

Aww that’s the Cologne store I think. Was there this past September back before the end of traveling

 

[Deemr]

Just tried to schedule a genius bar appointment. Seems they do not accept reservations yet.

 

[nickosbad]

Best way would for them to ask you what you are interested in buying/trying at the door then letting you in if you have a genuine desire to purchase....this way it would prevent the groups of kids messing with the phones/iPads and help minimise the people in the store.

 

[manu chao]

There will be a second wave, I guess they only try to avoid a collapse of the health care system. Still I believe they go too fast right now. They will allow contact based sports (soccer etc) by the end of may, which is too fast in my opinion.

Many of the new relaxations are reasonable on their own. Just all basically at once is taking too high a risk in my mind too. One reason is that after you've relaxed the rules in one sector, all the other sectors cry foul and want to get going too. If we knew exactly what risk each individual measure had, we could be putting off the higher-risk ones. But we simply don't know this to the required level of precision to discriminate.

 

[compwiz1202]

I wonder how they are going to deal with the display computers and phones that have screens and keyboards touched by hundreds of people daily? Is there going to be a guy following customers around the store with a can of Clorox wipes? 😂

Yea much easier for the checkout line director lady to quick clean one of four self checkouts than to do an entire Apple Store.

 

[boccabella]

You can impose all the safety precautions you want in the store but the staff and customers will likely be rolling the dice on public transport to get there.

 

[manu chao]

You can impose all the safety precautions you want in the store but the staff and customers will likely be rolling the dice on public transport to get there.

That’s why you need the authorities to mandate things like mask wearing while using public transport.

 

[Seanm87]

tbh I don't think many people will be going into these stores touching things knowing what's out there.

Most visitors will be either to buy something or visit the genius store.

 

[aidler]

Many of the new relaxations are reasonable on their own. Just all basically at once is taking too high a risk in my mind too. One reason is that after you've relaxed the rules in one sector, all the other sectors cry foul and want to get going too. If we knew exactly what risk each individual measure had, we could be putting off the higher-risk ones. But we simply don't know this to the required level of precision to discriminate.

What's obvious at the moment is that countrys are in a reopening race. No country want's to be left behind and loose economically. That's very worrying. With Germany trying to reopen, which arguably is too early. Even the US is reopening and the UK planning the reopening. For both the US and the UK it definitely is too early.