Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reports that Apple will once again require Apple retail employees at around 100 stores to go back to wearing masks while working. The new mandate is said to be due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the United States.
While customers are not yet required to wear masks, Apple is recommending that they do so while visiting an Apple Store.
Apple has shifted its mask policies throughout the pandemic in an attempt to abide by local regulations and reduce the risk for customers and workers in areas where COVID is on the rise. Apple stopped requiring masks in March when COVID levels were going down. Masks still aren’t required for employees in all locations.
Apple today also told corporate employees that they must go back to wearing masks when in common areas. Apple is also continuing its two-day in-office workweek for corporate employees for the foreseeable future and will delay transitioning to its planned three-day workweek.