US Apple Stores Removing Mask Requirements From Vaccinated Visitors Soon

Apple stores in the U.S. will allegedly no longer require customers to have masks on inside Apple Stores – as long as they are fully vaccinated.

Credit: Apple

Apple store employees will still need to wear masks, and the new store policy could possibly start as soon as 15 June 2021. However, Bloomberg learned that store employees are not required to ask for vaccination verification, which means that anyone can lie about their vaccination status and enter Apple stores without a mask.

Apple maintained a strict mask policy in its stores throughout the pandemic, requiring store visitors and employees to wear face masks at all times. It is not known if Apple will still implement other COVID-19 requirements like temperature screening, social distancing and capacity restrictions.

Credit: Associated Press

Apple joins a growing list of U.S. retailers like Starbucks, Walmart and Target which no longer require fully-vaccinated customers to wear face masks on their premises.

Bloomberg also reports that Apple will eventually drop mask requirements at some of Apple’s U.S. offices.

In an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg News, Apple says it is moving to the next phase of resuming normal business operations: “Given the progress being made in response to Covid-19 in the U.S., we wanted to let you know that a number of sites are now moving to the next phase of resumption and will begin to operate under Phase 3 onsite protocol. In Phase 3, where allowed, Apple protocols are being updated to permit optional masking for vaccinated individuals. Physical distancing requirements are also being relaxed in this phase.”

On June 2, Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote to corporate employees, asking them to return to offices to work for three days a week, starting in November.

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Written by Timothy Go