Apple says nearly 100 of its stores have reopened globally

The reopened Apple Stores will focus ‘on limiting occupancy’, with a renewed emphasis on one-to-one service

Apple reopened all of its stores in China by mid-March, as the coronavirus pandemic was reined in across the country

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A security guard checks a customer’s temperature outside the Apple Store in Charleston, South Carolina, on May 13. Photo: Agence France-Presse

Published: 8:47am, 18 May 2020Updated: 8:48am, 18 May 2020

Apple said it is reopening more than 25 stores across seven US states this week, adding to nearly 100 global locations that have reopened to customers after the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to close. Some stores will offer only kerbside or storefront service, the company said in an email statement.

In a letter to customers by Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice-president for retail and people, the company said it is “focused on limiting occupancy and giving everybody lots of room,” with a renewed emphasis on one-to-one service throughout each store. There will be temperature checks conducted at the door and face coverings will be required for all employees and provided to any shoppers without one.

“A store opening in no way means that we won’t take the preventative step of closing it again should local conditions warrant,” O’Brien wrote.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is in the process of reopening most of its retail sales network across Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Australia. It plans to reopen 10 of its 17 stores in Italy this week, the company said on Friday.

Apple closed all of its stores in mainland China early on in the novel coronavirus outbreak, which it was able to reopen a few weeks later as the pandemic was reined in across the country.

The company then closed all of its stores outside Greater China until it started a gradual reopening with its Seoul, South Korea, location recently.

Apple says nearly 100 of its stores have reopened globally

The reopened Apple Stores will focus ‘on limiting occupancy’, with a renewed emphasis on one-to-one service Apple reopened all of its stores in China by mid-March, as the coronavirus pandemic was reined in across the country

The reopened Apple Stores will focus ‘on limiting occupancy’, with a renewed emphasis on one-to-one service

Apple reopened all of its stores in China by mid-March, as the coronavirus pandemic was reined in across the country