There are signs on the window to warn consumers that the Apple Store in Santa Monica, California, is closed on July 28, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
VALERIE MACON / AFP through Getty ImagesAs California becomes a new epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, Apple has temporarily closed all 53 stores in the state less than a week before Christmas. The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is traditionally one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
The move comes a day after the Cupertino-based company closed all stores in the Los Angeles area. The Southern California region recently reached 0% of the UCI’s bed capacity as the pandemic continues to grow in the area.
Customers can still visit stores, but only to pick up existing online orders or participate in pre-scheduled technical support appointments and pre-scheduled shopping sessions through Tuesday, Dec. 22, California store websites say.
It is not yet known when the stores will reopen. However, the State Department of Public Health website says the Southern California and San Joaquin regions would be eligible to leave home stay orders on Dec. 28, but only if ICU bed capacity projections are equal to or greater than 15% for the next month. The Bay Area could see its closure closed on January 8th.
California reported 1.8 million cases of COVID-19, with 22,432 deaths, according to the state dashboard. Today, the state registered 43,608 new cases, although this number includes cases before yesterday, because the reporting of test results may be delayed.