Apple reopens all of its 270 stores across the US with coronavirus protocols still in effect
Apple has reopened all 270 of its stores across the U.S. as the effort to vaccinate more Americans against COVID-19 accelerates.
The Cupertino tech giant confirmed that stores may have different requirements for operation, including face masks, temperature checks, limited store occupancy and physical distancing.
For instance, many are open for walk-in customers, but others require a scheduled 15-minute shopping session. Some are open only for order pickup.
Shoppers can check for each store's operating model on Apple's website. Stores have "continuous deep cleaning," the site says.
The closing of Apple's stores on March 14 was a sign of a coming retail shutdown after the coronavirus hit. This is the first date that all of the company's stores in the U.S. are open.
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Apple's last closed stores in Texas were reopened Monday, according to tech news site 9to5Mac.com. Many stores have opened, closed and reopened in the past 12 months.
Globally, 12 Apple stores in France and two stores in Brazil are still closed, and two stores in Mexico are set to reopen Tuesday, CNBC reported.
Apple has prospered during the pandemic, posting record revenue of $111.4 billion – through sales of iPhones, iPads and services such as Apple TV+ – in its 2021 fiscal first quarter, a 21% increase over the same period a year ago.
CEO Tim Cook said sales could have even been better had its stores been open throughout the year. "Taking the stores out of the equation, particularly for iPhones and wearables, there's a drag on sales," Cook told CNBC.
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Apple: US stores reopen, COVID-19 precautions remain in effect
