Apple Stores in Ontario and Quebec Ban Walk-In Customers Due to COVID-19

With recent lockdowns in Ontario and Quebec due to COVID-19, Apple Stores in both provinces are no longer allowing walk-in customers.

Apple Canada’s website for these stores note they are only open for pick-up of online orders, and Genius Bar appointments which need to be booked ahead of time.

“We’re currently open for curbside pickup of online orders and Genius Support by making an appointment. We are unable to welcome walk-in customers at this time, but look forward to welcoming you for pickup and support,” says Apple’s website.

Checking Apple’s website, Apple Carrefour Laval has completely closed and will reopen on Friday, January 22. All other Quebec and Ontario Apple Stores have stopped walk-in customers.

Ontario’s stay-at-home orders are not as strict as Quebec’s, with the latter implementing a nightly curfew from 8pm to 5am until February 8.

Select Apple Stores Close in the U.S. Due to Coronavirus

As Apple Stores in these Canadian provinces shut down to walk-in visitors, more stores in the United States are closing entirely.

Apple closed over 20 of its retail locations in Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina on Saturday, January 16, amidst a significant uptick in COVID-19 cases in these regions — reports Bloomberg.

The company has shut down all five of its retail stores in North Carolina, five of its locations in Georgia, and over a dozen Apple Stores in Texas.

Texas is proving to be a particularly hot zone in terms of COVID-19 activity, with Apple already having to close down retail locations in Dallas and Fort Worth. The Apple Store in El Paso, however, remains open for now.

This is not the first time Apple has had to close retail locations in some of its biggest markets, and the step falls perfectly in line with Apple’s COVID-19 response, as described by Apple’s Head of Retail Deirdre O’Brien.

“Due to current COVID-19 conditions in some of the communities we serve, we are temporarily closing stores in these areas,” reads a statement from Apple. “We take this step with an abundance of caution as we closely monitor the situation, and we look forward to having our teams and customers back as soon as possible.”

The closure is temporary, but when these stores reopen will depend on COVID-19 activity in the areas, which Apple will undoubtedly be monitoring closely.

Customers with products sent in for repairs to the now-closed stores will be afforded an opportunity to pick them up, says Apple.

The tech giant also plans to temporarily close retail locations in the Washington area next week for the Presidential inauguration.