All Apple Store stores in the United States were reopened as of today, about two weeks before the anniversary of the first stores closed due to the coronavirus pandemic that began on March 13, 2020. The news, reported by 9to5Mac this morning coincides with the reopening of Apple’s last retail stores in Texas on Monday. Apple also confirmed The Verge that all 270 Apple Store locations in the United States are now open in some capacity for both in-store purchases and online order pickup.
This, of course, has no direct correlation with the rate of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States; Apple, in many cases, follows local health guidelines and preemptively closed its retail stores in some cases. But it is a sign that Apple feels confident about its restrictions on in-store purchases at certain locations and the security measures it has implemented, which include mandatory face masks and limited occupancy.
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced almost a year ago that the company would close all of its stores outside mainland China by the end of the month. At the time, Apple was developing its COVID-19 mitigation strategy for its store chain in China, which began closing on February 1, before the widespread outbreak of coronavirus in the United States. On March 17, Apple said it would keep all retail stores outside of China closed indefinitely, as COVID-19 boxes went off worldwide.
What followed over the next few months involved a complex mix of store openings and closings, as Apple followed local and state health guidelines and also prioritized the safety of its own retail employees. In some cases, stores were opened with limited capacity only to close again later, while others remained closed for long periods of time.
Apple began enacting its official reopening strategy in the United States in early May, and this went on for months, from summer to autumn. Still, Apple has shown a willingness to act quickly in response to changing conditions. In December 2020, it closed all stores in California and London as the number of cases increased during the holiday. Early last month, Apple temporarily closed all stores in the UK.
For a fascinating pair of infographics detailing the Apple Store closeout rate in the U.S. from last March to today, take a look 9to5Machistory from here.