Staples Now Requires Masks. Here Are All The Other Major Retailers Requiring Them.

PUBLISHED : Updated Jul 25, 2020

 

TOPLINE

Large retail chains including Walmart and Target have started requiring customers to wear masks inside their stores in recent days, usually with an exception for children under 2 years old and people who are unable to wear a mask for health reasons, a move that comes as the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen in the U.S. and public health experts advocate for widespread mask use as a primary means to stem the spread of the disease.  Here are all the major retailers requiring customers to wear face coverings in locations nationwide:

Costco: In late April, Costco became one of the first big retailers to announce a mask mandate that went into effect in early May.

Starbucks: Starbucks was one of the first major restaurant chains in the U.S. to announce a mask mandate. It went into effect on July 15 and only applies to company-owned stores.

Apple: When Apple reopened stores in May, the company announced new safety measures that went into effect immediately, including requiring all shoppers to wear a mask. Apple will provide masks for customers who don’t bring their own.

Publix: Effective July 21, Publix will require all shoppers to wear face coverings.

Walgreens: Starting July 20, all customers will be required to wear face coverings at Walgreens.

Walmart: Walmart announced that masks will be required in all Walmart and Sam’s Club stores starting July 20. A “health ambassador” will receive special training to let customers know the rule and find ways to resolve any issues that may arise from someone who refuses to wear a mask or cannot wear one. Sam’s Club will provide a mask to members who don’t have one at no charge.

Trader Joe’s: On July 15, Trader Joe’s announced that it “requests” that all customers wear a face covering effective immediately.

Target: On July 16, USA Today reported that Target will require all customers to wear masks starting on August 1.

Best Buy: All shoppers need to wear a mask, and Best Buy will provide one for customers who don’t have one.

CVS: Starting July 20, all customers will be required to wear a mask to enter a CVS store. “To be clear, we’re not asking our store employees to play the role of enforcer. What we are asking is that customers help protect themselves and those around them by listening to the experts and heeding the call to wear a face covering,” chief operating officer Jon Roberts said in the July 16 announcement.

Harris Teeter: All customers will be required to wear a mask starting July 22.

Kroger: All customers will be required to wear a face covering from July 22.

Kohl’s: Beginning July 20, Kohl’s will require all customers to wear a mask in all stores. The company says that store associates have been trained on the new health and safety measures and that greeters will be at the entrance of each store to remind customers to wear a mask.

Whole Foods: On April 30, Whole Foods announced that masks would be mandatory in all stores and that they would provide masks for people who don’t have one.

American Eagle: At both American Eagle and Aerie stores, customers are required to wear masks while shopping. The company says it will provide face coverings to customers who don’t have them.

Verizon: All customers at the telecom giant’s retail stores must wear a mask.

H-E-B: On July 3, H-E-B announced that all customers must wear a mask.

Menards: Masks are required at all locations and they will have masks available for purchase.

PetSmart: On July 17, PetSmart announced that all customers must wear a mask and that associates will provide masks to people who don’t have one.

Home Depot: All customers must wear a mask in all U.S. stores starting July 22. “Social distancing captains and store associates will be available to provide masks to those shoppers who may not have one,” Home Depot said.

Lowe’s: Masks will be required at all of its U.S. stores starting July 20. The company said it will provide free masks to people without one as long as supplies last.

BJ’s Wholesale Club: Effective July 20, anyone entering a BJ’s location will be required to wear a mask.

ALDI: Face coverings will be required at all ALDI stores starting July 27.

Macy’s Inc.: Macy’s will require all customers to wear a face covering beginning on July 22. The company says it will provide masks for customers who don’t have one.

Gap Inc.: Gap Inc. announced that masks will be required in all of its North American Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix and Janie and Jack stores, effective August 1. Gap Inc. says that disposable masks will be provided in all of the stores.

Panera Bread: Panera Bread customers are required to wear masks inside at all times, except while seated and eating or drinking.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.: A spokeswoman told Forbes that masks have been required in all its stores, including Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm and Rejuvenation, since June 22.

AT&T: AT&T requires masks and the company said it will provide masks to customers who need one.

Bed Bath & Beyond: As of July 24, Bed Bath & Beyond will require all customers to wear a face covering.

Winn-Dixie: After saying it would not require shoppers to wear face masks, Winn-Dixie reversed course and told CBS that masks will be required in all stores starting July 27.

Albertsons Companies: Albertsons Companies is requiring people to wear masks at all its supermarkets, which include ACME, Safeway and United Supermarkets.

JCPenney: JCPenney will require customers to wear face coverings while shopping in its stores, effective July 24.

Circle K Stores: The convenience store chain will require customers to wear masks in all of its locations.

Chipotle: Chipotle requires patrons to wear masks at all of its 2,630 restaurants.

McDonald’s: McDonald’s will require customers at its 14,000 U.S. restaurants to wear face masks starting Aug. 1. McDonald’s said in a statement that it will provide a mask for any customer without one.

Staples: Staples will require that all customers wear a face covering to enter a Staples store starting July 27.

KEY BACKGROUND

Thirty states have mandated that customers wear masks in stores, regardless of retailer policy. Despite a surge in cases, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, have not issued a statewide order. Though the majority of Americans say they are wearing masks in public, according to a July 6 Gallup poll, the issue has become politicized and a small group of vocal opponents have been featured in scores of viral videos confronting frontline workers about the issue. Some incidents have even turned violent as frontline workers say they’ve been assaulted in fights with customers.

NEWS PEG

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said this week the U.S. could “shut down transmission” and have coronavirus under control in four to eight weeks if every American were to wear a face mask.

TANGENT

Though Dollar Tree announced on July 8 that all customers are required to wear masks, the company quietly backtracked Thursday and now only requires face coverings in areas where there’s a state or local ordinance.

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