Signs appear on a window to warn consumers against shutting an Apple Store in Santa Monica, California, on July 28, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty ImagesAs California has become the new epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, Apple has temporarily closed all 53 of its 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 of its Los Angeles stores. Southern California recently reached 0% of ICU bed capacity as the epidemic continues to spread in the region.
Customers can still visit stores, but only to pick up current online orders or attend already-scheduled tech support appointments and already scheduled shopping sessions that take place through Tuesday, December 22, California store websites say.
There is no information yet on when the stores will reopen. However, State Ministry of Public Health website He says areas of Southern California and San Joaquin will be eligible to exit home stay applications on December 28, but only if the ICU bed capacity forecast is equal to or greater than 15% for the following month. The Gulf region may see its lockdown lifted on January 8th.
California has seen 1.8 million cases of COVID-19, with 22,432 deaths, according to State dashboard. Today, the state recorded 43,608 new cases, although this number includes cases before yesterday as reporting of test results could be delayed.
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