Omi clone fierce: Apple requires U.S. stores to wear masks

Apple has reportedly again required customers to wear masks at all of its U.S. retail stores, after it had previously removed the rule for about half of its stores. In an email to The Verge, the company said, "Due to the increasing number of cases in many communities, we now require all customers to wear masks with our team members when visiting our stores."

While employees have been required to wear masks for much of the epidemic, customers don't always have to wear masks, which has led to outbreaks in some Apple stores. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also reported that some places will have occupancy restrictions.

Apple reportedly began abandoning the mask mandate for some stores in November

Apple's current mask policy was reportedly enacted in early November, when some retail stores abandoned the requirement after increased vaccination rates and falling infection rates. The cycle appears to be a repeat of what happened this summer — Apple began relaxing mask requirements for some stores in June, but reinstated those requirements in most places in July.

Apple is reviving these requirements as the number of COVID infections in the U.S. rises again, even as the booster vaccine begins to be widely used.

The change also came after a widespread outbreak was reported at an Apple store in South Lake, Texas, earlier this month. After Black Friday, 22 employees at the location tested positive for COVID, and some reported that customers (who didn't need to wear masks) were huddled "shoulder to shoulder" in the store, NBC News reported.

Apple also told The Verge. "We monitor the situation regularly and we will adjust the hygiene measures in the store to support the health of our customers and employees."

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