As Covid-19 cases rise, Apple stores in New York City close to shoppers

As cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant spread across the United States, Apple Inc announced on Monday that all of its 12 New York City stores will be closed to indoor shopping.

According to an Apple spokesperson, customers will be able to pick up online orders in stores. The affected stores include outlets at Fifth Avenue, Grand Central and SoHo.

"We regularly monitor conditions and we will adjust both our health measures and store services to support the wellbeing of customers and employees," the company said in a statement.

Apple announced earlier this month that three stores in the United States and Canada will be temporarily closed due to an increase in Covid-19 instances and exposures among retail staff. For the same reason, Apple has made it mandatory for all customers and employees in its US stores to wear masks.

Concerns about the Omicron variety have pushed big corporations to tighten practices around the world. A US court ordered the reinstatement of the Covid-19 countrywide vaccine-or-testing rule for large firms, which affects 80 million American workers, earlier this month.

Opponents of the move have filed a petition with the Supreme Court to have the reinstatement overturned. Apple's stock ended the day at $180.33, up 2.3 percent.