Apple closed all its New York stores due to staff shortage. Omicron variant tears through New York State and prompts businesses to put in place their de facto lockdowns.
The Big Apple is still the epicenter of the Omicron virus-related third wave infected U.S.A.
The tech giant closed down shops in SoHo, the Upper West Side, Chelsea as well as Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx. Long Island shops at Huntington Station in Manhasset, and Manhasset on Long Island were also closed. Customers can still order online from the stores and pick up their items at the shops.
Apple released a Monday statement that stated, ‘We monitor conditions and will adjust our healthcare measures to support customers’ and employees’. Apple released a statement on Monday stating that they are committed to maintaining a holistic approach for their teams which includes daily testing and health checks as well as employee and customer masking and paid sick leaves.
In addition to New York, Apple closed its stores in Los Angeles Tower Theatre, Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C. and outlets in Ohio, Texas, Georgia and Florida. Temporarily, the company also closed its Regent Street location in London. All in all, 20 locations across the country were shut down.
In the United States, the number of cases of Covid has more than doubled in just two weeks. The average American is testing positive for the virus daily, which represents a 99% increase in the past two weeks. Johns Hopkins University reports that the number of new cases in the United States has surpassed 512,553 on Monday. This large number is due to a long-running buildup of cases that were not reported over Christmas, which was finally logged to begin the week.
In New York state, 26,737 people tested positive for the virus on Sunday – though Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Monday she expects the number to rise up to 20,000 or more by the time Tuesday’s data comes in, as more people will get tested following the Christmas holiday.
The situation is more grim in New York City, which is seeing a 10.7 percent positivity rate with a 17,334 total cases reported over the past week. As a result, many restaurants and bars have shuttered on their own after staff outbreaks or exposure, and as customers cancel bookings for fear of the virus.
Multiple Broadway shows have closed their doors, and Mayor-elect Eric Adams cancelled his inauguration gala scheduled for New Year’s Day.
Because the shutdowns are voluntary, the path to safely reopening is murky, and it is unclear when business will resume as normal.
The situation is more grim in New York City, which is seeing a 10.7 percent positivity rate with a 17,334 total cases reported over the past week. As a result, many restaurants and bars have shuttered on their own after staff outbreaks or exposure, and as customers cancel bookings for fear of the virus
26737 New Yorkers tested positive for the virus Sunday in New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul indicated Monday that the state’s 26,737 people tested positive for the virus on Sunday. However, Gov.
Apple shut down stores in SoHo and Chelsea, as well as Brooklyn, Staten Island, New York, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, and the Upper West Side. Long Island stores in Huntington Station, Manhasset and Manhasset also were affected. Customers can still order online from the stores and pick up their products at the shops. Pictured is Apple’s Fifth Avenue store near Central Park, which often has hundreds of people waiting to enter.
New Yorkers were hospitalized for COVID over Christmas. Over 5,500 New Yorkers celebrated their holidays in New York’s hospital facilities, which was the biggest increase since February.
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared Monday that the number of statewide hospitalizations stands at 5,526. This is the highest total since Feb. 23rd and nearly a 19% increase from November 1.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Omicron variant could be responsible for as much as 73 percent. However, there is evidence that the strain may have been more mild. According to the CDC, this variant accounts for over 90% of all cases in New York.
Under pressure from the business community federal health officials reduced the period of isolation from 10 to 5 days Monday and shortened the quarantine times for anyone who has come into contact with the infected.
Prior to the holiday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian sent a letter to Rochelle Walensky from the CDC warning of the rise in infections and asking that she shorten her isolation.
The decision was made too late. However, the shortening of the flight time meant that approximately 1,000 U.S. flights and 2800 worldwide were cancelled Monday, CNN reports. This is due to staff shortages. Over 11,000 flights were cancelled. There were more than 700 cancellations and 2200 delays on Tuesday.
The Association of Flight Attendants was furious at the use of the hyphenated isolation time to solve the staff shortage.
The union released a statement saying that they wanted to hear directly from doctors on best guidelines for quarantine. This was not corporate America’s push for shortening the time due to staff shortages. ‘While the CDC offered a medical explanation as to why quarantine was reduced from 10 days to five, it is still less reassuring that it matches corporate America’s recommendation.
The US has not seen an increase in the average number of cases per day since January 19, which is the date when COVID’s greatest surge hit.
In recent weeks both deaths and hospitalizations have been steady, but not at the same rate as those in cases.
The wave has caused a second shutdown of public-facing businesses all across the country.
According to Eater.com, Austin’s Franklin Barbecue was closed and over a dozen bars and restaurants were shut down due to staff infections.
The dining area will be closed for the week. We’ve had multiple team members test positive for Covid 19. Luckily their symptoms so far are mild & they are recovering at home. Due to their absence, however, we don’t have enough staff to operate. We expect to reopen on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/AwHihAivlu
— Franklin Barbecue (@franklinbbq) December 20, 2021
Los Angeles nightlife and red carpet events were halted by the outbreak of new infections.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the red carpet premiere for Cyrano’s movie was cancelled on December 16.
The Palm Springs International Film Society cancelled their Jan. 6 gala in honor of Lady Gaga and Nicole Kidman. Kristen Stewart was also present.
As New Year’s Eve festivities are curtailed, the suffering of the restaurant and bar industry will continue.
New York City limits the number people permitted to attend Times Square at midnight. This means that there will be only 15,000 attendees. According to NBC the event typically accommodates 58,000.
In reality, New Year celebrations in the United States have been halted by the virus.
White House advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested that you avoid all celebrations.
It’s only going to get worse before things get better. He said that on Good Morning America Monday.
According to industry publications, at least three more glamorous Hollywood award ceremonies were also stopped.
Omicron isn’t the only reason Apple has a shortage of staff – a few workers organized a Christmas Eve walkout across the company to demand better pay and paid sick leave.
Apple has already delayed its return-to office date twice this year. According to The New York Times, originally employees had planned to return to work in January. However, it was moved to February and then put off until indefinitely.
According to the Times, this will be dependent on decreasing infection rates before the company decides upon a new date.
Biden has had a difficult time keeping up with the tsunami wave. The political fallout could be grave for the administration.
According to Vanity Fair, Monday’s president had to retract a report that he denied that he was against a COVID-19 plan for at-home testing that would have required 732 test per month. To prevent holiday surges, the operation would have increased testing.
‘We didn’t reject it,’ Biden said.
President Trump stated that he will distribute 500k COVID testing at-home to Americans starting January.