Apple plans to begin reopening a select number of retail stores in the United States next week, starting with locations in Idaho, South Carolina, Alabama and Alaska.
Upon reopening, Apple will require employees to undergo a daily health screening complete with a temperature check, with all store staff required to wear a face mask, according to a leaked internal video shared with employees today, via MacRumors.
Visitors will also be required to wear face masks, with hand sanitizer available to customers as well as temperature checks upon entering the store.
MacRumors outlines all the steps Apple is taking, some of which are listed below…
- Prior to when work starts, all employees undergo a health screening complete with a temperature check, with the results logged in a daily spreadsheet.
- Daily briefings are done in the mornings in the Forum area at Apple Stores, with employees making sure to sit at least two meters apart.
- Prior to being allowed in the store, customers are also given a temperature check.
- All Apple Stores are providing hand sanitizer, which customers are encouraged to use.
- Stores are limiting the number of people inside, forming lines with customers waiting at least two meters apart.
- Products purchased by customers or returned after repair are delivered from the back in a relay system, being handed off from employee to employee to allow each person to stay in a separated zone without back and forth.
- Product specialists and Genius Bar staff are positioning themselves across tables away from customers in order to maintain distance.
- Employees are encouraged to communicate with one another through the Talk app to cut down on unnecessary movement within the store.
The news follows after Apple opened all of its stores in Australia earlier this week.