Apple to Start Reopening U.S. Stores Next Week

[lkalliance]

Are you aware of what rules this "somewhere" has in place? There are a LOT of places right now that won't let you come in if you have any symptoms. If they have a rule like that, you may feel at least a little bit more comfortable/confident going to this place, because is would hopefully give you some peace of mind that there wasn't a sick person there. (Symptomatic, at least). We've got a few doctor's office buildings on my campus and one in particular will NOT see anyone who's showing symptoms. They have this rule so that people who aren't sick (that they know of) can still come in for certain tests that they may need. Personally, if I were a high risk...it would make me feel a little more comfortable walking into a place with a rule like that.

If you aren't sure...don't hesitate to give them a call and ask questions about what precautions this place is taking. Seriously! Never hurts to ask and make sure!

Thanks for the advice! I was advised by my doctor's office that there is a clinic in their system that does labs but that happens to not have a respiratory medicine function; that would suggest that patients suffering from COVID-19 wouldn't be brought there on purpose. Doesn't rule out any risk of course. I will call in advance and see what level of comfort I can achieve. Comfortable or not, I'm going to get the lab test done somewhere.
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The Covid antibody test I took this week was a blood draw. Have your doc add it to your order so you can see if you’ve already had it or not.

Oh, good idea!

 

[chatin]

Sales are going to fall off a cliff for Apple. Stores are 100% discretionary.

 

[iOS Geek]

Thanks for the advice! I was advised by my doctor's office that there is a clinic in their system that does labs but that happens to not have a respiratory medicine function; that would suggest that patients suffering from COVID-19 wouldn't be brought there on purpose. Doesn't rule out any risk of course. I will call in advance and see what level of comfort I can achieve. Comfortable or not, I'm going to get the lab test done somewhere.

Sure!

Yeah asking doesn’t hurt! Even if the answer is “no, we don’t have any policies like that”...at least you know what you’re getting yourself into and you’ll have info to gauge your precautions. A good healthcare worker won’t get upset if you ask. It’s a valid concern!

 

[Johnny907]

That sure is a bad situation. Apple really should have run a skeleton crew for awhile longer just for device pickups. It seems she should be compensated in some way.

I agree but apparently Apple hasn't been very apologetic about the situation publicly or privately in direct discussions with customers so I don't expect anyone will get anything for their inconvenience unless it goes to court via class action lawsuit frankly. That seems to be the only way to get Apple to do the right thing in situations like this.

 

[Tech198]

Good luck Apple...


..your gonna need it.

 

[dilbert99]

It's just a flu right?

Nah, I don't think hoax means what he thinks it does. Its a shame that not everyone comes out with a basic education.
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I'm just saying the numbers presented here are likely inflated.

Wrong way around, the numbers listed are understated by a good margin, you can probably double the numbers and still be way off
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Oddly, heart disease, cancer and death from diabetes have all vanished.

Tell that to all the healthy people who have succumbed to the virus.
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The "when" is not irrelevant. Cuomo himself said something about 66% of New York's new cases being in people who haven't even left their homes.

You have to go out or people have to come in or deliveries to get the virus. People need to eat, hence need to shop or get items delivered. The chain of contact is there.
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Really, the goal now should be to protect the people that are high-risk and let everyone else take their chances.

That is still a lot of deaths for those not in a high risk group.

How many lived lost would you be happy with?

 

[dilbert99]

Are 30-50 million ruined financial lives worth it?

How much is a life worth? I'd also restate it, while a lot of workers are doing it really tough and the impact should not be understated, they are not financially ruined, they can and will recover as the economy begins to reopen. You can't recover if you are dead.

Why don't you believe we should shut it down every winter when the flu kills from 40,000-70,000 people in the US. Worldwide the flu kills from 300,000 to 650,000 per year. Why not shut the economy down every year?

In 2017-2018 there were 61,000 deaths from flu. This year the US for corona deaths has hit 80,000 and rising
The flu cases are spread over a larger period and put less of a strain on health services.
The flu has vaccines.
Covid only has social distancing to keep numbers lower and is spread at a higher rate and the number of asymptomatic carriers is higher.
You only have to look at how the numbers are affected by how a country puts in to place its measures.
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It really has me thinking. I fall into one of the categories of "high risk" individuals. I've been self-isolating for eight weeks now, I think. So in a couple of weeks I have my regular appointment with my specialist. We'll be doing it virtually, so far so good...but there is a lab test I get every time, to get an important number to discuss. Now I've got to go somewhere to have this done. It certainly does make me worry. But if I don't continue to treat my existing issues effectively, it's like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

And you are lessening your risk. I will assume that if your tests are important, then they will go ahead.
From a safety standpoint, this just means that you will get to your test if you can by avoiding public transport and with less people moving around for no reason, also means you will encounter less people on your test visit and any ones you do will be at a safer distance.
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That must be shocking to some of the more astute “keep it locked down!” folks.

I guess it all boils down to how many deaths society are happy with, I'm in the save as many as possible camp and opening up in a fact/science based approach.
You only have to take a look at the UK and US to see how inaction leads to more deaths.
I'm fortunate to be living in Australia where social distancing and working from home was championed a lot earlier and thus has a fraction of the deaths.

 

[dilbert99]

Oddly, heart disease, cancer and death from diabetes have all vanished.

Yes all consumed by all the unnecessary deaths that are happening at the moment. Just think how many lives could have been saved with good leadership.
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the same organizations that’s said it couldn’t be transferred via human to human? Or the ones that said 2 million people would die?

I think you'll find they said that if we did nothing that would be the expected death count.
One only has to look at the stats for each country to see a correlation between the number that died and compare that to the actions they took.
You'll find that the countries that took it seriously sooner rather than later faired somewhat better.

 

[cocky jeremy]

That would be fantastic. It would mean that the virus is much less deadlier than we think.

Which is the case. This virus is a joke.
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Yes all consumed by all the unnecessary deaths that are happening at the moment. Just think how many lives could have been saved with good leadership.

lol. You don't get it.

 

[lkalliance]

lol. You don't get it.

I get the claim that those being listed as death from COVID-19 were already suffering from what would have been terminal anyway. I think if we can set aside emotion about that (which is disrespectful and itself upsetting, but necessary for this topic), then that claim at least deserves to be examined.

Data shows (and has been amply sourced on this thread) that the total number of US deaths from all causes is way up in April, well above established norms. Clearly that difference must be due to the virus.

But if your thesis is that these were people that would have passed anyway, then that suggests that over a longer time period those numbers will even out: that at some point we should start seeing FEWER deaths than normal (that is, those that would have passed away from severe illness that were instead taken from us weeks or months earlier by the virus). The truth will out, over time, which is not very sexy.

 

[Sykora171]

Why don't you guys just keep the "ISOLATION!" vs "TOO MUCH ISOLATION!" over on Facebook. This is MacRumors. Everything in the comment section is the equivalent of screaming about the pandemic to the lady on the other end of the Wendy's Drive-thru speaker.

 

[Bolanders]

How much is a life worth? I'd also restate it, while a lot of workers are doing it really tough and the impact should not be understated, they are not financially ruined, they can and will recover as the economy begins to reopen. You can't recover if you are dead.


In 2017-2018 there were 61,000 deaths from flu. This year the US for corona deaths has hit 80,000 and rising
The flu cases are spread over a larger period and put less of a strain on health services.
The flu has vaccines.
Covid only has social distancing to keep numbers lower and is spread at a higher rate and the number of asymptomatic carriers is higher.
You only have to look at how the numbers are affected by how a country puts in to place its measures.
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And you are lessening your risk. I will assume that if your tests are important, then they will go ahead.
From a safety standpoint, this just means that you will get to your test if you can by avoiding public transport and with less people moving around for no reason, also means you will encounter less people on your test visit and any ones you do will be at a safer distance.
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I guess it all boils down to how many deaths society are happy with, I'm in the save as many as possible camp and opening up in a fact/science based approach.
You only have to take a look at the UK and US to see how inaction leads to more deaths.
I'm fortunate to be living in Australia where social distancing and working from home was championed a lot earlier and thus has a fraction of the deaths.

You asked how much is a life worth? Each person has their own answer. What I universally know is that some are absolutely willing to take the health risk so their financial life isn't ruined. Others are not. As I asked in prior posts is it worth losing 150,000 people if only 10 million lives are ruined financially? 50 million? 100 million? 200 million? At some point most people will flip. It's harder for me to answer because I have no house payment, no car payment, no debt, and significant savings.

The point on the flu is each year from 40-60,000 people die in US and every year we go on about our business. This means that it is certainly worth losing 50,000 people per year (split the difference here) to keep the economy going and no one bats an eye. Even in a bad year if 60,000 or 70,000 die we don't bat an eye. At what point does that stop?

I am certainly not in the save as many as possible camp and BTW not one country believes in the save as many as possible or they would not have done the half assed stay at home.

 

[ericwn]

Which is the case. This virus is a joke.
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lol. You don't get it.

In that case you’d have a buddy.

 

[unplugme71]

Too soon!

I could see opening for repairs, but sales should be limited to online only.

Keep the doors closed and only let bad appts in.
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Anyone who dies who has covid like symptoms can be included in the death count...Weakness is a symptom of covid. IDK anyone who dies without weakness. Hospitals get extra money for listing covid as cause of intake...they have a financial incentive to pump the numbers. I'm not sayings it's not a real thing to be concerned about, I'm just saying the numbers presented here are likely inflated.

They absolutely are. My neighbor passed away from cancer, had some symptoms but still tested negative for covid and was listed as dying from it. Lawyers involved now.

 

[dilbert99]

You asked how much is a life worth? Each person has their own answer. What I universally know is that some are absolutely willing to take the health risk so their financial life isn't ruined. Others are not.

People will be doing it tough, but I disagree with your financially ruined premise, perhaps you are meaning some other term. Jobs will come back as places are now opening up.

And here in lies the problem, the risk that people take is not to themselves but to other people.

The point on the flu is each year from 40-60,000 people die in US and every year we go on about our business.

The flu is spread over a longer period, a lot less contagious and has vaccines. Covid-19 does not.

 

[planteater]

Most commenting in this thread are failing to take into consideration a key point. No one size fits all. You don’t treat an area that is not having ongoing problems from covid 19 as you do one that is.

Some of your militancy toward keeping everything shutdown regardless of factors for a particular region is frankly quite stunning in it's utter simplistic rational.

This is not a matter of deaths versus economic wellbeing. It is a matter of common sense balance. Apple, thankfully, has some common sense. Do you?

 

[Bolanders]

People will be doing it tough, but I disagree with your financially ruined premise, perhaps you are meaning some other term. Jobs will come back as places are now opening up.

And here in lies the problem, the risk that people take is not to themselves but to other people.



The flu is spread over a longer period, a lot less contagious and has vaccines. Covid-19 does not.

You can disagree but you would be wrong.

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If 69% don't even have $1000 then going a month or 2 without paycheck with debt piling up will ruin them financially.

 

[dilbert99]

If 69% don't even have $1000 then going a month or 2 without paycheck with debt piling up will ruin them financially.

I guess it depends on what you mean by ruin financially, to me if someone can recover financially after everything opens up then they are not ruined. In any case I do agree that a lot of people will be badly affected financially regardless of the wording chosen.

Most commenting in this thread are failing to take into consideration a key point. No one size fits all. You don’t treat an area that is not having ongoing problems from covid 19 as you do one that is.

Some of your militancy toward keeping everything shutdown regardless of factors for a particular region is frankly quite stunning in it's utter simplistic rational.

This is not a matter of deaths versus economic wellbeing. It is a matter of common sense balance. Apple, thankfully, has some common sense. Do you?

Or one could look at what those areas have done so that they don't end up like the rest.
If an area is not impacted by the corona virus then they have either had a good response put in place or they are doing social distancing naturally by the type of geography.
And yet, different areas can have variations of a plan.

In the city where I live there have been around 6 deaths because of the shutdown and we are starting to open up using data to drive decisions. Using data and feedback loops is common sense.

 

[Bolanders]

I guess it depends on what you mean by ruin financially, to me if someone can recover financially after everything opens up then they are not ruined. In any case I do agree that a lot of people will be badly affected financially regardless of the wording chosen.

Or one could look at what those areas have done so that they don't end up like the rest.
If an area is not impacted by the corona virus then they have either had a good response put in place or they are doing social distancing naturally by the type of geography.
And yet, different areas can have variations of a plan.

In the city where I live there have been around 6 deaths because of the shutdown and we are starting to open up using data to drive decisions. Using data and feedback loops is common sense.

Huh. If someone can barely make it while earning their full time pay you think that going without work for 2-8 months (and that is how long this is going to affect some people) that they can "just make it up."? That is pure gold.

 

[Anonsom799]

Why? What’s the rush?

Oh.....$$$$

Yeah, as an Apple employee myself I’m highly disgusted about it too. They haven’t announced my store reopening but they’re saying “very soon” but I also live in one of the worst states for corona. So the fact they’re Trying to open very soon here makes me very upset. They’re trying to play the whole we’ll limit costumers and go by procedures bull but they just wanna rush and open back up for money. Disgusting on their part. Absolutely horrible .

 

[I7guy]

... Disgusting on their part. Absolutely horrible .

Yeah, it's disgusting and horrible that Apple is paying you also, which is more than some others are getting. I'm sure Apple is in step with the plans for your area and the other businesses are opening also. Some of the those business may have employees that aren't getting paid and may welcome going back to work to get a paycheck.

 

[sransari]

Please help me to understand then what freedoms you have lost or what basic rights you have lost. What I hear is a bunch of whining/unwillingness to work together to keep people from dying. It’s abhorrent and lazy. Because it seems like the majority of us have found ways around doing things like gathering in public and using technology (imagine that! On Mac website!) to stay in touch, socialize, etc. Maybe if people on the right pretend that COVID-19 is a woman’s body to regulate it will make more sense. And if you’re really scared about people’s financial well being maybe sick leave, paid time off, and healthcare should be available to everyone. That may help.

Rights lost:
-Right to practice religion freely
-Right to assemble
-Right to work and provide for yourself and family
-Right to privacy

as a result, we have:
-40 million+ out of work
-small businesses shutdown
-financial ruin for millions
-trillions in debt for the next 3 generations to pay off
-mass starvation
-increase in depression
-increase in suicide
-increase in animal euthanasia
-food shortages
-production shortages
-the lost sense of self-worth

shall I continue...?

This isn’t just people whining. It’s peoples livelihoods ruined. It’s difficult for people like you to see if you’re income and food supply hasn’t been affected, but put yourself in the shoes of others for a change and you might start to see the other side of the coin.

 

[TheRealDGD]

Rights lost:
-Right to practice religion freely
-Right to assemble
-Right to work and provide for yourself and family
-Right to privacy

as a result, we have:
-40 million+ out of work
-small businesses shutdown
-financial ruin for millions
-trillions in debt for the next 3 generations to pay off
-mass starvation
-increase in depression
-increase in suicide
-increase in animal euthanasia
-food shortages
-production shortages
-the lost sense of self-worth

shall I continue...?

This isn’t just people whining. It’s peoples livelihoods ruined. It’s difficult for people like you to see if you’re income and food supply hasn’t been affected, but put yourself in the shoes of others for a change and you might start to see the other side of the coin.

You have not LOST any of the rights above, if you did then the USA would have come to a complete stop, which it has not. You might have been inconvenienced for a bit but you most certainly have not LOST your rights. Sorry life is not the playbook you have in your hands and you might just have to adjust for a bit. Not arguing with some of your results but do not blame it on your RIGHTS being LOST.

 

[sirozha]

I just looked it up and about 16% of flu cases are aysmptomatic. 84% have symptoms. The amount of covid that are asymptomatic are much much higher, likely well above 70%

What does your response have to do with my post? Did I claim that most flu illnesses are asymptomatic? No, I didn’t. What’s I said is that most adults who get the flu (yes with the symptoms) do not go the the doctor. If the symptoms prevent them from going to work, they call in sick. Otherwise, most actually foolishly go to work.

Only a small percentage of adult flu cases end up being counted. Because flu has been around forever, people recognize the symptoms and realize that there no medicine for it. So, the majority stay at home and recover on their own. Only those who get bad complications, such as pneumonia, etc., end up seeking medical attention.