Apple Stores Will Continue to Require Masks for Now

[MacRumors]

Earlier this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear their masks outdoors or in most indoor settings, paving the way for many companies to relax their mask rules.

Following the recommendation change, several stores announced that they would no longer require vaccinated customers to wear masks inside, including Walmart, Trader Joe's, Starbucks, and Costco, but for the time being, Apple retail stores will continue to ask customers to wear masks.

According to Bloomberg, Apple has told its U.S. retail store locations that the mask mandate and other COVID-19 procedures will remain in place for the time being, though it is evaluating health and safety measures. Apple said that its priority is employee and customer safety, and did not provide employees with a timeline for when its guidelines might shift.

The CDC's mask guidelines do not overrule mandates put in place by states, and while some states have changed their rules to match the CDC's recommendations, others have not. States like Michigan, Connecticut, North Carolina, Minnesota, and others have updated their mask wearing guidance and will no longer require masks in most settings, but other states like Hawaii and Massachusetts have opted to keep restrictions in place. California, where Apple's main corporate campuses are located, has not yet announced any mask changes.

Mask rules are likely to continue to change as states and retailers adjust to the CDC's new recommendations. Apple has required masks in retail locations since the beginning of the pandemic and has opened and closed stores on a rolling basis since last year based on local conditions.

Article Link: Apple Stores Will Continue to Require Masks for Now

 

[countryside]

Just make it optional. People will be irrationally mad no matter when you lift the unnecessary mandate.

 

[sdz]

Reasonable decision.

 

[DHagan4755]

Well it's quite obvious: what the hell was the point of getting vaccinated if we still have to wear masks? And thankfully the CDC recognized this. It was really undermining the vaccine. If you’re uncomfortable going into public places without a mask then wear a mask. Or two.

 

[sdz]

Just make it optional. People will be irrationally mad no matter when you lift the unnecessary mandate.

Optional defeats the purpose.

 

[sdz]

Well it's quite obvious: what the hell was the point of getting vaccinated if we still have to wear masks? And thankfully the CDC recognized this. It was really undermining the vaccine. If you’re uncomfortable going into public places without a mask then wear a mask. Or two.

Vaccination protects you from having complications but you could be still infectious.

 

[DHagan4755]

Vaccination protects you from having complications but you could be still infectious.

No. The vaccination is supposed to protect you from getting the virus. That's the point.

 

[sdz]

No. The vaccination is supposed to protect you from getting the virus. That's the point.

"the virus"
https://nextstrain.org/ncov/global
Which one?

 

[BigMcGuire]

This upcoming Thursday I'll be fully vaccinated (will be 2 weeks after my second shot). Never really found mask wearing to be that difficult, especially if it had the chance of saving lives and not spreading Covid. What I did find interesting was the attention it brought - mostly of people laughing and being mad at me for wearing a mask. Even had a police officer (last year) "look at that idiot trying to exercise with a mask" (he said it loud enough to know I heard). lol Whatever.

Was surprised how quickly some of these companies did away with the policy after the CDC announcement - I wonder how the proof of vaccination will be provided? The slightly thicker than printer paper cardstock vaccine record card isn't going to last long. I'm told that some places refuse to laminate it for fear of destroying it. Well, is a photo of my vaccine card good enough?

Going to be interesting. I'm very happy with how Apple has treated its employees - got to talk to a few when they opened back up - employees were all paid, many took the time to take college classes, get certifications, etc (from what I was told).

 

[Hastings101]

liberal big corporations strike again to smash the boot of oppression against America. Disgusting and sad

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Key words being "for now". Let's hope this doesn't go for too much longer. I'm already seeing fewer masks around here and I live in the Bay Area where wearing masks was always fairly non-controversial. Masks are being phased out slowly and that's a good thing.

 

[gwangung]

No. The vaccination is supposed to protect you from getting the virus. That's the point.

This is absolutely wrong.

It's supposed to protect you from serious effects and hospitalization. Which it absolutely does.

But you can (and it HAS been shown in multiple instances) still pass it along to other people. (Besides, what does 95% efficacy mean to you, anyway?)

 

[icerabbit]

Good.
I am happy for all stores to continue to mandate masks ’till the end of the year.
Even though I am fully vaccinated, I have no isue wearing a mask around other people for another year or two. It is the nice and polite thing to do.

We are nowhere near herd immunity with only 1/3 fully vaccinated in the US and with 1/3 refusing to get vaccinated … plus half the people refuse to get their kids vaccinated … meaning we will never get to that critical 80% protected.

We have already had anti-maskers for a whole year. Now it will only get worse.

A segment of the population routinely lies about having a medical excemption, their animal being a service animal, them having a disability, etc … so being vaccinated will be the next automatic lie from the anti-maskers and anti-vaxers.

And remember, the vaccine only prevents you from severe illness. You can still get covid, you can still get sick, you can still get a bad reaction as you’re getting over it, but you should not be that bad that you get into the hospital. Now they’re starting to walk back on the part about spreading after vaccination, but I have not seen the studies or data on that …

Anyhow. Be smart. Be safe. Mask up around strangers.

 

[kennyt72]

No. The vaccination is supposed to protect you from getting the virus. That's the point.

You couldn't be more wrong, and statements like that are dangerous

 

[BruceEBonus]

There’s no actual proof masks do anything. But it is scientific fact. ?

 

[BuffaloTF]

This is absolutely wrong.

It's supposed to protect you from serious effects and hospitalization. Which it absolutely does.

But you can (and it HAS been shown in multiple instances) still pass it along to other people. (Besides, what does 95% efficacy mean to you, anyway?)

Actually, you can't pass it to other people. The amount of virus shed following an mRNA vaccine is so minimal they can't track it and is inadequate for transmission. It has been shown in absolutely ZERO instances that you can pass it to others.

95% efficacy means there's a 5% chance that the virus evades your antibodies and infects YOU. Often a result of your body being compromised by another illness, leaving your immune response weak. At that point you'd be a host to a LIVING virus, and could potentially spread it.

 

[Techwatcher]

Optional defeats the purpose.

That's too bad.

 

[trifid]

Well it's quite obvious: what the hell was the point of getting vaccinated if we still have to wear masks? And thankfully the CDC recognized this.

How do you know if the customer that enters your store is vaccinated or not? CDC recommendation doesn't address this, so this is why Apple is still requiring masks for now, which makes sense for the safety of those who are still not vaccinated.

 

[sw1tcher]

Well it's quite obvious: what the hell was the point of getting vaccinated if we still have to wear masks? And thankfully the CDC recognized this. It was really undermining the vaccine. If you’re uncomfortable going into public places without a mask then wear a mask. Or two.

Wearing masks was undermining the vaccine? Yeah. Sure. It had nothing to do with certain people spreading lies that the vaccine was killing people or that it would make people infertile.

 

[HopefulHumanist]

Wearing masks was undermining the vaccine? Yeah. Sure. It had nothing to do with certain people spreading lies that the vaccine was killing people or that it would make people infertile.

No, requiring people who got the vaccine to continue all the mitigation practices just as they had to before being vaccinated was an issue. A lot of people wondered what the point of getting it was if it didn’t change how they would live.

 

[MacStreamer]

Do some of you want people to wear masks forever? If you are vaccinated you shouldn’t have to wear a mask anymore.

 

[zorinlynx]

The next few months are going to be really confusing not knowing where you might need a mask. We're pretty much going to have to keep one in our back pocket at all times just in case. At least things seem to be getting better; I hope the trend continues.

 

[Pakaku]

I still can't believe the lengths people will go to complain about... wearing one piece of cloth on their face.

 

[zorinlynx]

How do you know if the customer that enters your store is vaccinated or not? CDC recommendation doesn't address this, so this is why Apple is still requiring masks for now, which makes sense for the safety of those who are still not vaccinated.

I'm sure the CDC took liars into account when coming up with their guidance. They're not idiots and realize some people will lie.

 

[zorinlynx]

I still can't believe the lengths people will go to complain about... wearing one piece of cloth on their face.

Some people seem to tolerate masks better than others.

Some folks don't mind wearing a mask and it's really comfortable for them. Myself, I hate having stuff on my face so I want to rid myself of masks at the first opportunity. I'll always follow the rules, though; I'm not an anti-masker ******* type.