Apple Inc. is dropping its mask mandates for corporate employees in most locations, The Verge reported Monday, citing an internal memo.
Although this mandate has been revised multiple times since then, there are still some locations where Apple employees are required to wear masks. Now the company is dropping the mask mandate “in most places” for corporate employees.
It also comes as COVID-19 infections are on the rise in the United States, with the BA.4 and BA.5 subtypes of Omicron types accounting for more than 90% of illnesses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
These subvariants have significant mutations from the earliest versions of Omicron, and protection from vaccines wanes over time.
“Don’t hesitate to continue wearing a face mask if you feel more comfortable doing so,” the report quoted Apple as saying in the internal email. “Also, please respect every individual’s decision to wear a mask or not.”
Earlier this year, the mask mandate for Apple employees was removed at Apple retail stores in the US. In March, the company relaxed the requirement for most of its employees to wear masks in some places. With this week’s decision, the company appears to be taking the next step to return to normal activities, although there is still some controversy.
Apple and In-Person Work:
On April 11, Apple’s corporate employees began returning to work in person after two years of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees had to work individually for one day a week. By May 4, this requirement was increased to two days a week. Apple wanted to increase this requirement to three days a week, but the company backtracked on its decision due to rising cases of COVID-19.
At the same time, Apple is facing criticism for emphasizing the need for employees to work individually, with the company’s policies more restrictive than those of other Silicon Valley companies.
