List: Face masks required at stores including Walmart, Best Buy, Starbucks
SAN FRANCISCO -- More major retailers are requiring shoppers to wear masks or face coverings while in their stores amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Though some defer to local orders regarding masks, other chains have issued company-wide policies. This week, McDonald's became the latest chain to mandate that masks are required to enter any of their stores.
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As retailers have been making decisions regarding their individual businesses, retail trade groups have advocated for more cohesive policies.
The National Retail Federation issued a statement Wednesday that urged "our elected leaders need to set politics aside," saying "it is critically important that we have a national mask standard implemented locally."
The NRF applauded the efforts of retailers like Walmart and Best Buy, and noted "Stores are private businesses that can adopt policies permitted by law for the health and safety of their associates and their customers. Shopping in a store is a privilege, not a right. If a customer refuses to adhere to store policies, they are putting employees and other customers at undue risk."
This follows in the footsteps of The Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents Target, Home Depot and other major chains, writing a letter to the National Governors' Association on July 6.
"We urge every governor to require customers who are not encumbered by a medical condition to wear masks when shopping or in public spaces," the letter says, citing the confusion of conflicting private retailer, local, and state mask policies.
They also noted the "troubling incidents" of customers refusing to wear masks. "We strongly recommend store employees not be charged with primary enforcement of mask mandates and that retailers not be fined for a customer's non-compliance," said the RILA.
Here's a list of major retailers who require customers wear masks inside their stores:
Aldi
Starting Monday, July 27, face coverings will be required to enter ALDI stores. "Our new face covering policy is an enhanced safety measure intended to help limit the spread of COVID-19. All ALDI employees will continue to wear face coverings, as they have for months."
Apple
In May, Apple announced that for the retail stores that are now reopened, "face coverings will be required for all of our teams and customers, and we will provide them to customers who don't bring their own."
Bed Bath & Beyond
"As of July 24, we will require all shoppers to wear a face covering, in line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control," Bed Bath & Beyond's policy states.
Best Buy
Best Buy issued their own mask policy on Tuesday. The requirement to wear a face-covering inside the store began on July 15. "We will provide a face covering if a customer doesn't have one, and small children and those unable to wear one for health reasons may enter without one," the company's statement read. "Any customer who has a concern about wearing a mask will be able to shop Best Buy via our website and app and choose home delivery or contactless curbside pickup, which remains in place at all our stores."
Costco
Costco was one of the first retailers to issue a blanket requirement for face coverings. Their site reads: "To protect our members and employees, all Costco members and guests must wear a face covering that covers their mouth and nose at all times while at Costco. This requirement does not apply to children under the age of 2 or to individuals who are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition."
CVS
CVS will require customers to wear masks at all stores across the country starting Monday, July 20.
Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree's July 8 update to their coronavirus policy says, "In accordance with guidelines from the CDC, we are requiring all Associates, customers, and vendors to wear cloth face coverings when inside our stores." However, sometime during the week of July 13, Dollar Tree changed their policy to read: "We also request that our customers wear face coverings, and require face coverings where required by state or local ordinance," backtracking on the mask requirement and instead framing it as a request unless superseded by local law.
Gap (as well as Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix and Janie and Jack)
Gap and its sister companies will require shoppers wear masks in their North American stores as of August 1. "Employees are already required to wear masks in our stores to help keep our customers and communities safe, and we're now asking our customers to help us do the same, with the exception of small children or those who are exempt due to an underlying medical condition," reads their statement.
