(Photo: wsj.com)
Walmart restricts customers without face coverings
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the nation, Walmart will require customers at all of its U.S. stores to wear masks beginning next week. This makes Walmart the largest retailer to mandate facial coverings.
Other national chains have made similar moves; Starbucks required all customers and baristas to wear facial coverings or masks at 9,000 stores across the U.S. BestBuy also requires shoppers at 1,000 stores to wear face masks, and Costco requires all members and workers to wear masks in stores.
The purpose of issuing the rule to “[H]elp bring consistency across stores and clubs,” said Walmart US chief operating officer Dacona Smith. There has been much hesitation among many retailers and grocers to implement a mask and face-covering mandate because there is a reluctancy to put employees in an enforced position.
Coronavirus cases continue to rise, making the pandemic worse; more than three million people have tested positive for the virus and over 100,000 have lost their life. In response to the rising numbers, cities and states are re-imposing restrictions to contain new outbreaks.
After Walmart announced their mask mandate, the National Retail Federation, the main lobbying group for the industry trade group, called for more retailers to mandate masks for customers.
By: Maytinee Kramer
