Worried About The Spread Of The Omicron Variant, Apple Requires The Use Of Masks In All Their Retail Stores

Now every Apple retail store must wear a mask. (photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA - Apple Inc will require all customers and employees to wear masks in their retail stores in the US. This explanation came from the iPhone maker on Tuesday, as COVID-19 cases surged in the country.

Last month, Apple canceled mask mandates for customers at more than 100 of the company's roughly 270 stores across the United States, according to Bloomberg News, as coronavirus cases declined. But now they are starting to tighten the mask rules again once the more contagious variant of Omicron appears in the US.

"We regularly monitor conditions and we will adjust our health measures in stores to support the well-being of customers and employees," the company said, quoted by Reuters.

COVID-19 infections are on the rise again, with the spread of Omicron variants causing more concern for some large companies, prompting them to tighten their protocols.

JPMorgan Chase & Co has also instructed unvaccinated staff in Manhattan to work from home, according to a staff memo seen by Reuters. Meanwhile investment bank Jefferies Financial Group has implemented remote work due to a spate of COVID-19 cases in the US.

The mandatory application of masks in the US is indeed not as strict as in Indonesia. Many US companies have the freedom not to wear masks for their employees. This is certainly different from Indonesia, which strictly enforces the use of masks for the public in their activities.