Apple Reinstating Employee Mask Mandate at Approximately 100 U.S. Retail Stores

Apple retail employees at around 100 stores will need to go back to wearing a mask while working, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is mandating masks for employees again due to a rising number of COVID cases across the United States.

apple store palo alto
Customers who visit an Apple Store are not required to wear a mask at this time, but Apple is continuing to recommend masks for all ‌Apple Store‌ visitors.

Apple has been shifting its operating policies throughout the pandemic to keep in line with local regulations and to mitigate risk for employees and customers in areas where COVID is spiking. Apple stopped requiring masks in March when COVID levels were lower, and masks still aren't required for employees in all locations.


In addition to requiring masks for retail employees at some locations, Apple today told corporate employees that they must go back to wearing masks when in common areas. Apple is also maintaining its two day in-office work week for corporate employees for the time being, and will delay going to a three-day work week.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Popular Stories

New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

18 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Wednesday November 13, 2024 2:09 am PST by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.2 next month, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. There are a handful of new non-AI related feature controls incoming as well....
M4 MacBook Pros Thumb

M4 MacBook Pro Uses Quantum Dot Display Technology

Thursday November 14, 2024 4:19 pm PST by
The M4 MacBook Pro models feature quantum dot display technology, according to display analyst Ross Young. Apple used a quantum dot film instead of a red KSF phosphor film, a change that provides more vibrant, accurate color results. Young says that Apple has opted for KSF for prior MacBook Pro models because it doesn't use toxic element cadmium (typical for quantum dot) and is more...
airtag purple

New AirTag Rumored to Launch in Mid-2025 With These Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
AirPods Crackling Feature

Apple Customers Sue Over Unfixed AirPods Pro Crackling Issue

Wednesday November 13, 2024 11:01 am PST by
A trio of Apple customers this month filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, accusing the Cupertino company of violating California consumer protection laws and false advertising for continuing to sell AirPods Pro models that had ongoing issues with crackling or static sounds. A few months after the AirPods Pro came out in October 2019, buyers began to complain about crackling, rattling, ...
google gemini

Google Releases Standalone Gemini AI App for iPhone

Thursday November 14, 2024 2:54 am PST by
Google has launched its dedicated Gemini artificial intelligence app for iPhone users, expanding beyond the previous limited integration within the main Google app. The standalone app offers enhanced functionality, including support for Gemini Live and iOS-specific features like Dynamic Island integration. The new app allows iPhone users to interact with Google's AI through text or voice...

Top Rated Comments

Agent OrangeZ Avatar
33 months ago
"Just 2 weeks to flatten the curve..."
Score: 64 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Naraxus Avatar
33 months ago
Yeah no. I am done with wearing masks.
Score: 42 Votes (Like | Disagree)
profets Avatar
33 months ago
What's amazing about masks is that comparison after comparison of neighbouring regions where one has a mask mandate and the other does not results in near identical rates of cases and transmission.

End this theatre already.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
no_idea Avatar
33 months ago
At what point will these companies realize that you cannot outrun a pandemic nor prevent it. Wearing masks just delays the inevitable. Common sense would indicate the reason why the numbers were so low a few months ago is because nearly everyone caught omnicron and we had a “herd” immunity of some sort. Stop trying to outrun this thing. If it runs it’s course, it will eventually subside
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ajfahey Avatar
33 months ago
How did the human race ever survive without masks?
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
barkomatic Avatar
33 months ago
I don't understand how requiring masks only for employees helps either employees or customers. Not that I think either group should be required to wear them at this point.

Looking more broadly, employees can go out without masks in a variety of environments outside of work, but suddenly requiring masks in this one scenario somehow protects them?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)