The Worsening Pandemic Indicates a Need for Apple to Massively Shut Down Its Stores Again
With reports from several sources, including the federal government and renowned entities like Johns Hopkins, it's clear that the pandemic's severity can be gauged in unconventional ways. One such method has been the closures of major retailers, like Apple. Apple was one of the first significant companies to shut down its stores early in the pandemic and has since opened and closed them based on surging and receding case numbers.
On a disappointing Saturday, 9to5Mac discovered that new COVID-19 restrictions and alarming outbreaks had prompted Apple to close all 53 of its stores in California. As of the following day, California had recorded over 1.8 million cases and more than 22,500 fatalities. On this very Saturday, the state was hosting nearly 17,400 hospitalized individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections. In addition, several other outlets reported that these closures extended to Apple Stores in various states.
Gizmodo confirmed through Apple's official website that they had shut down more than a dozen locations in multiple states due to the escalating COVID-19 cases. For instance, all four Apple Stores in Tennessee, three in Utah, four in Minnesota, and two in Oklahoma were closed. Moreover, the stores in Anchorage, Alaska; Portland, Oregon; and Albuquerque, New Mexico, also saw temporary closures. In the United Kingdom, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered lockdowns in London and significant parts of the southeast and east, Apple shut down 16 stores. Additionally, Apple announced the closure of its stores in Mexico and Brazil due to the surge in cases. Earlier in the week, Apple had also closed all 18 stores in Germany and the Netherlands.
An Apple spokesperson issued a statement to Reuters regarding these closures, stating:
"Due to the current COVID-19 conditions in certain communities we serve, we are temporarily closing stores in these areas. We take this step with an abundance of caution, closely monitoring the situation, and we look forward to welcoming our teams and customers back soon."
Customers could still pick up their orders at the closed stores over the following days. Gizmodo contacted Apple for additional comment on the store closures and the current status of their open stores in the U.S. and globally; if they receive a response, we will update this information.
Considering that Apple chose to close its stores during the bustling holiday season, it truly showcases their commitment to public safety. Nevertheless, the primary takeaway from this situation remains the same: be extremely cautious during this holiday season. Although vaccines are now available, the pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the U.S. and around the world. As of that day, there were more than 76.7 million reported cases globally, according to Johns Hopkins, with over 17.8 million cases in the U.S. alone. The death toll surpassed 1.6 million.
So, please, practice due diligence: wear your mask and maintain social distancing. Stay protected and safe.
- The pandemic's impact on tech companies like Apple was significant, leading to multiple store closures across various regions.
- In response to surging COVID-19 cases, Apple confirmed the closure of over a dozen stores in several states, including Tennessee, Utah, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.
- Looking towards the future, technology companies must prioritize safety measures to mitigate the impact of pandemics on their operations, as demonstrated by Apple's actions during the COVID-19 crisis.
- As reported by Johns Hopkins, the global pandemic had reached nearly 77 million confirmed cases and over 1.6 million deaths, emphasizing the necessity for continued vigilance and precautions, such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.
