What you need to know
- Apple has postponed the return of in-store classes at its Apple Stores.
- The cancellation is due to the rise of COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant.
- The company is also increasing testing on its staff.
Apple's plans to bring Today at Apple classes back into its Apple Stores has is now paused for many areas.
Yesterday, it was reported that the company informed its retail staff in both the United States and Canada that in-store classes would resume on August 30. Customers were even able to start reserving in-store sessions online.
Today, that was all changed. As reported by Bloomberg, the company is suspending the return of in-store classes in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. The company informed retail staff in a memo. In-store Today at Apple sessions are still planned to return in Europe.
"Due to local conditions, we will continue to pause in-store Today at Apple sessions," Apple told staff. "We are excited to welcome customers back in store for Today at Apple when the time is right, and will share a new date for resuming sessions as soon as we can."
The company is also increasing its at-home testing program for both its corporate and retail staff. Apple will begin to send enough test kits for two tests per week, according to the memo.
"With the emergence of more contagious variants like delta, we believe that more frequent testing will better protect you and everyone at Apple ... Beginning Aug. 16, Quest will be sending you two mail-in test kits per week instead of one."
Apple had originally planned to return its corporate teams back to the office in September, but that plan was changed once the Delta variant began to take hold internationally. The company currently hopes to return staff to the office in October, but that will also change as needed.
