Apple has temporarily shuttered its Charleston, South Carolina retail location after more than 20 store employees were exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19. Stores of the size of the Charleston location typically employ 70 to 80 employees, meaning approximately 25% of the store’s staff may have been affected.
As reported by Bloomberg, the store’s website shows it will be shuttered until next week. A sign on the front of the location alerts customers to the shutdown. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
In addition to the Charleston store closure, Apple is also experiencing staff shortages at its stores, due to COVID-19 exposures and a labor shortage. While stores remain open, some locations are closing earlier and opening later than usual, due to a lack of staff.
Apple had also planned to reinstate in-person “Today at Apple” starting August 30 but has since delayed those plans because of the prevalence of the delta variant.