Apple Requiring Retail Employees in Some Regions to Wear Masks, Other Employees Encouraged to Do So

[MacRumors]

Amid spiking cases in the ongoing health crisis, Apple has started urging its employees to wear masks in retail store locations once again, and is mandating it in some areas, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple stopped requiring fully vaccinated customers and employees to wear masks at Apple Store locations in June, but with the Delta variant spreading across the United States and impacting even those who have been vaccinated, Apple is being more cautious.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1417541379354411012

In Santa Clara County where Apple's headquarters are located, local health authorities have begun recommending that masks be worn in indoor public locations, but it is not a mandate. In Los Angeles County, masks are once again required, so Apple employees in this area will indeed be wearing masks.

All Apple stores worldwide are still open at this point in time, and it is not clear if there will be further shutdowns in any areas.

Apple had planned to have its corporate employees return to work in September, but yesterday said that those plans have been delayed until October at the earliest. Corporate employees will be given at least a month's notice before they have to return to work.

Article Link: Apple Requiring Retail Employees in Some Regions to Wear Masks, Other Employees Encouraged to Do So

 

[eatrains]

Good for Apple looking out for everyone's health! Get vaccinated, people.

 

[jk73]

Everyone wore masks for 15 months but COVID still spread like wildfire. Might as well wipe your butt with those stupid things. They’re useless against COVID except for people who are coughing and sneezing, who shouldn’t be out anyway.

 

[Cosmosent]

Here in San Diego, I think we've got 4-7 days without Masks, BEFORE it hits the fan again

And that will be the new Status Quo until next Spring

 

[iGeneo]

Everyone wore masks for 15 months but COVID still spread like wildfire. Might as well wipe your butt with those stupid things. They’re useless against COVID except for people who are coughing and sneezing, who shouldn’t be out anyway.

We had 8 of those 15 months without vaccine

The issue is a lack of vaccinations. We started well, but now have hit a wall, states like MO aren't helping with 40% or so vaccinations. Also, Florida accounts for 1 in 5 cases across the country

Masks help, vaccinations are the answer

 

[Realityck]

So lack of news and we have to discuss masks being used at Apple stores again? I visited the Apple Park Visitor store next to their huge round building three times recently, every time I went there staff was all wearing masks. It was only a occasional customer not wearing one. Santa Clara county has not seen any noticeable delta variant spike yet and hope it never does.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I'm not interested in protecting anti-vaxxers.

 

[mashdots]

Everyone wore masks for 15 months but COVID still spread like wildfire. Might as well wipe your butt with those stupid things. They’re useless against COVID except for people who are coughing and sneezing, who shouldn’t be out anyway.

We had 8 of those 15 months without vaccine

The issue is a lack of vaccinations. We started well, but now have hit a wall, states like MO aren't helping with 40% or so vaccinations. Also, Florida accounts for 1 in 5 cases across the country

Masks help, vaccinations are the answer

Not to mention, not everyone wore masks. There were tons of reports of public gatherings where people neither wore masks nor socially distanced themselves.

There's plenty of evidence pointing to the fact that they do work; people just need to stop thinking about themselves and mask up.

 

[4jasontv]

Everyone wore masks for 15 months but COVID still spread like wildfire.

Well, now that's absolutely false.

 

[jk73]

There's plenty of evidence pointing to the fact that they do work; people just need to stop thinking about themselves and mask up.

There’s no evidence masks work.

 

[BootsWalking]

The subtext is clear - the honor system of asking unvaccinated people to wear masks didn't work and so now everyone has to wear them since there's no way to tell the groups apart.

 

[jk73]

Well, now that's absolutely false.

It’s absolutely false? Japan and the Philippines reported mask compliance at over 98% for over a year. Why didn’t COVID disappear in those countries?

The subtext is clear - the honor system of asking unvaccinated people to wear masks didn't work and so now everyone has to wear them since there's no way to tell the groups apart.

Why would everyone have to wear them if vaccines work?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I wish same could be applied for the corporate employees.

 

[4jasontv]

It’s absolutely false? Japan and the Philippines reported mask compliance at over 98% for over a year. Why didn’t COVID disappear in those countries?

Because it's not going to disappear. That's not how this works.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Here we go again, more work from home.

 

[jk73]

Because it's not going to disappear. That's not how this works.

We’re going to wear masks forever?

 

[4jasontv]

We’re going to wear masks forever?

From your comments, it sure sounds like it.

 

[mashdots]

There’s no evidence masks work.

Here's just a handful of studies and articles that point to the fact that masks work.

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449
• https://files.fast.ai/papers/masks_lit_review.pdf
• https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/4...s-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent
• https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20201119/how-much-does-wearing-a-mask-protect-you
• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hea.../coronavirus-face-masks-what-you-need-to-know
• https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/masks-save-lives-heres-what-you-need-to-know-2020111921466
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33087517/

They're not a perfect solution; nobody said they were. Hell, even vaccines aren't 100% effective, but they work. They reduce the spread and that's what we're trying to do here. Obviously if you want to avoid risk, it's better to stay at home or if you have to go out to practice social distancing and sanitize regularly.

We’re going to wear masks forever?

Not sure. Before COVID, I still saw the occasional traveler wearing a face mask as a precaution (I think the trend started with SARS, but I could be wrong).

 

[jk73]

Here's just a handful of studies and articles that point to the fact that masks work.

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449
• https://files.fast.ai/papers/masks_lit_review.pdf
• https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/4...s-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent
• https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20201119/how-much-does-wearing-a-mask-protect-you
• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hea.../coronavirus-face-masks-what-you-need-to-know
• https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/masks-save-lives-heres-what-you-need-to-know-2020111921466
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33087517/

They're not a perfect solution; nobody said they were. Hell, even vaccines aren't 100% effective, but they work. They reduce the spread and that's what we're trying to do here. Obviously if you want to avoid risk, it's better to stay at home or if you have to go out to practice social distancing and sanitize regularly.

”15 days to bend the curve.”

”We need to wait a year for the vaccines.”

”We need to wear masks while waiting for the vaccine.”

”We need to get the vaccine and then wear masks for another year.”

Enough is enough with this nonsense.

 

[mashdots]

LOL. The damn vaccines don’t even work.

”15 days to bend the curve.”

”We need to wait a year for the vaccines.”

”We need to wear masks while waiting for the vaccine.”

”We need to get the vaccine and then wear masks for another year.”

Enough is enough with this nonsense.

Okay, you have fun with that then.

edit: I think there's something to be said about the importance of evolving and changing views with new information. If you can't do that then what will you do? Just give up?

 

[DeepIn2U]

Everyone wore masks for 15 months but COVID still spread like wildfire. Might as well wipe your butt with those stupid things. They’re useless against COVID except for people who are coughing and sneezing, who shouldn’t be out anyway.

Everyone ... you mean those that attended certain rally's unabashed for not wearing masks, those that attended protests that may have done the same, those in certain USA states that still have THE lowest single or double vaccination counts not just in the country but as a populace alone less than even small countries (by size, population, GDP, etc)?

Wearing a mask was supposed to stop YOU a person from spreading covid19 if you had it, minimal defence of others around you for any length of time from getting it. short contacts like walkers on by quick in/out of stores etc it helped.

same playbook from 100yrs + ago was used and THAT is why we're on the cusp of a 4th wave, not a 3rd wave from said long time ago. We've not learned much at all and ... THAT is a major issue as human beings; its sad really.

 

[mikethemartian]

We had 8 of those 15 months without vaccine

The issue is a lack of vaccinations. We started well, but now have hit a wall, states like MO aren't helping with 40% or so vaccinations. Also, Florida accounts for 1 in 5 cases across the country

Masks help, vaccinations are the answer

I live in Florida. Not really thrilled about that statistic. But I guess we need to be number one at something.

 

[jk73]

Everyone ... you mean those that attended certain rally's unabashed for not wearing masks, those that attended protests that may have done the same, those in certain USA states that still have THE lowest single or double vaccination counts not just in the country but as a populace alone less than even small countries (by size, population, GDP, etc)?

Wearing a mask was supposed to stop YOU a person from spreading covid19 if you had it, minimal defence of others around you for any length of time from getting it. short contacts like walkers on by quick in/out of stores etc it helped.

same playbook from 100yrs + ago was used and THAT is why we're on the cusp of a 4th wave, not a 3rd wave from said long time ago. We've not learned much at all and ... THAT is a major issue as human beings; its sad really.

If the problem is the MAGA mouth-breathers, how come it’s California with the growing caseload? A lot of MAGA people vacationing in California?

 

[4jasontv]

I feel for the Apple Corporate employees who will likely be forced to return to the spaceship before they are comfortable. At least Apple seems aware enough to delay the return and isn't headstrong about 'returning to normal' just for the sake of it.

 

[sw1tcher]

Everyone wore masks for 15 months but COVID still spread like wildfire.

If by everyone you're referring to

- those who cared about protecting themselves and others
- those who knew Covid-19 was more dangerous than the common flu and that it wouldn't just disappear one day or that infections would soon drop to zero
- those who didn't think it was a giant conspiracy to violate your freedoms and take away your liberties
- those who didn't think it was a giant conspiracy to make people more obedient and compliant
- those who didn't think it would increase the amount of carbon dioxide you breathed in
- those who didn't receive a special face mask exemption card 🤣

then yes, everyone wore a mask.