All US Walmart customers will be required to wear masks from July 20.
As cases rise at an accelerated rate across the country, the topic of masks has continued to be a major source of contention. The web is saturated with videos of customers refusing to comply with the health and safety measure, disregarding requests from businesses and members of staff. Not too mention the verbal and physical abuse that many employees have encountered when addressing which can essentially be a matter of life or death.
Regardless of state or city requirements on mask-wearing, both Starbucks and Walmart will require all customers to wear face coverings when entering the premises. Costco was one of the first chains to institute this nationwide back in May, as reported by Business Insider.
To best serve our communities and protect the health and safety of our shoppers and associates, face coverings will be required in all stores beginning Monday, July 20. For more on our decision and policy, please see here: https://t.co/r2ijRqslNP pic.twitter.com/pKYQCzk48l
— Walmart (@Walmart) July 15, 2020
From July 20, Walmart and Sam’s Club shoppers will be required to wear masks. “We know some people have differing opinions on this topic. We also recognize the role we can play to help protect the health and well-being of the communities we serve by following the evolving guidance of health officials like the CDC,” the retailers’ chief operating officers said.
Starbucks, which already requires all staff to wear masks, will now require all US customers to do the same from Wednesday, July 15. However, customers in states that do not require masks and that may not be wearing one will still have the option to order their Starbucks, including ordering at the drive-thru, curbside pickup through the Starbucks app or placing an order for delivery through Starbucks Delivers.
“In its continued effort in prioritizing the health and well-being of partners (employees) and customers, Starbucks today announced that beginning on July 15, it will be requiring customers to wear facial coverings while visiting all company-owned café locations in the US,” the press release reads.
Though enforcing the measure may still be another feat, it seems businesses are taking it upon themselves to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to protect both staff and the public.
Featured image: Marco Paköeningrat via Flickr