【Eric Falk】

In-store retail has taken an obvious hit due to the pandemic,Eric Falk and even tech giant Apple isn't immune. Apple is closing more than 20 stores in North Carolina, Texas, and Georgia, Bloomberg reports, because of the virus spikes in those areas.

"Due to current COVID-19 conditions in some of the communities we serve, we are temporarily closing stores in these areas," Apple told Bloomberg in a statement. "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."

This isn't the first time Apple has made this move while coronavirus surges around the country and world. In December, the company shut down all 53 stores in California as well as stores in Tennessee and abroad in Mexico, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Apple cited COVID as the reason for those closures, as well.

Following the Capitol riots, Apple also closed stores in Washington D.C. until at least Jan. 21, the day after Inauguration Day. These closures are a safety precaution for employees rather than driven by infection rates.

Mashable has reached out to Apple for comment and will update should received. Apple hasn't said when these brick-and-mortars will reopen, but you can check your local store's status here.

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