Apple requiring masks at all US stores as cases rise

Apple will require customers to wear masks at all U.S. stores as COVID-19 cases rise, the company said Tuesday. 

“We regularly monitor conditions and we will adjust our health measures in stores to support the wellbeing of customers and employees,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement.

“Amid rising cases in many communities, we now require that all customers join our team members in wearing masks while visiting our stores.”

Apple is reinstating the policy as coronavirus cases rise and new variants of the virus, including the highly transmissible omicron variant, spread. 

Apple’s policy means that customers will have to wear masks in the stores even if states and local governments don’t have a mandate in place. 

Apple’s home state California is reimposing its indoor mask mandate on Wednesday, although populous areas of the state including Los Angeles County and most of the Bay Area never lifted their own mandates. 

Updated at 3:52 p.m.