Apple has reportedly closed an Apple Store in Texas attributable to a COVID-19 outbreak

Apple closed certainly one of its Southlake, Texas retail shops Wednesday after many employees members contracted COVID-19, according to NBC News’ Zoe Schiffer. A supervisor advised workers Wednesday that 22 staffers “have shared that they’re positive for COVID-19,” NBC News reported, and 4 of the shop’s 151 workers reported optimistic instances proper after Black Friday. The retailer will likely be closed by Sunday.

NBC News’ report highlights a couple of worrying tendencies in regards to the Southlake location. One worker mentioned they’d beforehand raised issues about being unable to maintain social distancing. He and one other worker mentioned the shop was packed “shoulder to shoulder” on Black Friday. And a supervisor on the Southlake retailer apparently had requested workers to come back even when they’d known as in sick:

NBC spoke with 4 present and former workers on the Southlake retailer who mentioned they’ve acquired calls from their supervisor encouraging them to come back to work, even once they known as out sick. In two of those instances, the worker had taken the Covid-19 survey and the outcomes mentioned to not are available in. The supervisor didn’t reply to requests for remark from NBC.

Apple’s official coverage requires retail staffers to put on masks and to take a COVID-19 survey earlier than they go to work. They should even be examined for COVID-19 ceaselessly: unvaccinated staff have to be examined twice per week and vaccinated staff examined as soon as per week.

The firm didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Schiffer reported this month for The Verge that a lot of Apple’s frontline staff discover working situations to be untenable.

Most of Apple’s company workers will return to the workplaces in a hybrid work pilot starting February 1st. The firm initially introduced its hybrid work plans in June with the intent to return in September, however that was delayed to January after which to February. Facebook father or mother firm Meta has additionally just lately up to date its return to work policies. Offices will totally reopen on January thirty first, however employees will have the ability to defer coming again by three to 5 months.