Starting Monday, Walmart to require customers to wear masks at all stores

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart will require customers to wear face coverings at all of its namesake and Sam's Club stores, making it the largest retailer to introduce such a policy that has otherwise proven difficult to enforce without state and federal requirements.

The company said the policy will go into effect on Monday to allow time to inform stores and customers. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said that currently about 65% its more than 5,000 stores and clubs are located in areas where there is already some form of government mandate on face coverings.

The retailer also said it will create the role of health ambassador at its Walmart stores and will station them near the entrance to remind customers without masks of its new requirements. These workers, who will be wearing black polo shirts, will receive special training to “help make the process as smooth as possible for customers."

Walmart joins a growing list of retailers that have instituted mask mandates throughout their chains. Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer electronics retailer, announced Tuesday that it will have a mask mandate for its customers at all of its stores. Starbucks announced last week that customers who visit its company-owned café locations in the U.S. will be required to wear face coverings. Both policies were in effect Wednesday.

The moves come as new COVID-19 cases are spiking in many states, particularly Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Retailers have been challenged with striking a balance between keeping shoppers safe while making them feel comfortable.

Last week, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents Walmart, Best Buy and other major chains, publicized a letter it sent to state governors to mandate store customers to wear face coverings. It said the hodgepodge of rules around the country have created confusion for shoppers and that has led to conflict between customers and workers trying to enforce store rules.

The National Governors Association said last week that its members are discussing the letter and others like it from different retail groups.

Social media is full of videos capturing clashes between those who are asked to wear masks, and employees who are under orders to make sure people wear them.

Fewer than half of U.S. states require masks in public places, according to the RILA. And only a handful of major retailers including teen clothing chain American Eagle Outfitters has a mask mandate for customers for all of its stores. Costco Wholesale Club was one of the first major retailers to require face coverings for customers at all of its stores. The policy went into effect in early May.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people cover their mouth and nose when around other people to help reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

“We know some people have differing opinions on this topic,” wrote Dacona Smith, chief operating officer at Walmart U.S. and Lance de la Rosa, chief operating officer at Sam's Club in a blog posted Wednesday. “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.”

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    Thanks Karen.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 1:34 PM
  • And let DPR's whining begin.

    -- Posted by unbiased on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 1:52 PM
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    Unbiased - LOL. You are probably one of those that complained.

    But what should we expect from someone who sees a witty, poignant post as whining, likely to deflect from their own guilt...

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 2:53 PM
  • A mask, then ID, then entry allowed only to those with a chip embedded under their skin, and a Debit/Credit card. Easy tracking. A slippery slope greased by the wolves, followed by the sheep.

    -- Posted by FactswithoutBS on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 3:14 PM
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    FactswithBS, You are so correct. We have never even recovered from the "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service" that them there wolves forced on us. The Constitution!! Now excuse me but I have to get back to my poster board. Thank goodness I was able to get in wally world before this mask mandate, and was able to get more push pins and yarn.

    -- Posted by RSOTS on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 3:33 PM
  • *

    While Karen and her allies praise Walmart for this mandatory mask-wearing for their customers, I hope everyone takes a good long notice that almost ZERO walmart employees (who have been required to wear masks for weeks now) actually wear their mask properly.

    And yet where is the management/corporate enforcement of proper mask-wearing? Nowhere to be found... b/c its not about safety.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 4:08 PM
  • For god's sake, just wear a mask and get on with it. So many conspiracy theorists here that revel promoting anxiety to delirium. Wear a mask and move on! Unbelievable

    -- Posted by joebuser on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 5:29 PM
  • joebuser must be one of the sheep who follows without questioning. 1984 and the "End Times" are upon us.

    -- Posted by donantonio on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 5:42 PM
  • “FactsWithoutBS”, did you choose your username ironically?

    -- Posted by techphcy on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 9:10 PM
  • That's right...

    be good little Talibanist

    Get your burka on!

    Infidel.

    -- Posted by direstraits on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 10:13 PM
  • Direstraits - it would just be Taliban, not Talibanist. Also, you're an idiot.

    -- Posted by BJCP96 on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 10:20 PM
  • Seriously, who are we supposed to believe - well-respected international scientists or the doofus you went to high school with?

    -- Posted by unbiased on Wed, Jul 15, 2020, at 10:42 PM
  • I’m so tired of hearing those choosing to wear masks for safety being called sheep and conforming to a government takeover. Can’t I just wear a mask out of precaution and be a part of the solution and not the problem? To each their own, so why name call?

    -- Posted by kbmom on Thu, Jul 16, 2020, at 8:48 AM
  • Good grief - just put on a mask and go get your shopping done and go home. It is not the end of the world. If one chooses not to wear a mask then stay home. Your choice.

    -- Posted by Nit on Thu, Jul 16, 2020, at 9:46 AM
  • I hear Walmart might be opening the Auto Section Saturday. Off the mask topic but I know this will be good news for many in this area. ( if the rumor is true that is)

    -- Posted by Workingthesoil on Thu, Jul 16, 2020, at 1:16 PM
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    Unbiased - what "well-respected international scientists" would you believe?

    The scientist who's model projections of the "global pandemic" was so far out of line with reality that he has become a laughing stock b/c his methodology was a joke...even without the story of his "breaking quarantine" in those early days to go have a little fun with his married girlfriend.

    The scientists from the WHO that have been proven liars and shills for the Chinese government?

    The Chinese scientists that claimed that it came from a wet-market from bats (lie) or pangolins (lie), or is some nefarious US plot (partially true in re: early work w/the virus), or originated in Western Europe (lie based on the reality that the bat originally blamed can be found in Europe/North Africa)...but most certainly did not escape from the Wuhan virus lab (which is most likely did).

    Perhaps you would believe Dr. Fauci? You know, the guy who wrote Hillary Clinton fan mail (and would never use his power to undermine her vanquisher)... the guy who has been all over the board on masks/no masks and related mitigation efforts... the guy who received millions of dollars from Bill Gates (who is shady AF)... the guy who is partly responsible for the whole Wuhan virus (read the stories of money and research collaboration between Fauci and the Chinese)...the guy who says a proven effective treatment (HCQ, not under patent)) is merely anecdotal while a much more expensive trial treatment (remdesivir, under patent) is the best hope.

    Or maybe you would prefer to believe ANY scientist who is going to tell you - with a straight face - that they can take bad/corrupt data (all the numbers are provably wrong) and yet come up with accurate interpretations.

    But don't believe some guy who digs around for news from around the world, some guy who uses his brain, some guy who has NOTHING to gain by telling you these things and only hopes that you will do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Thu, Jul 16, 2020, at 4:09 PM
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    Oh man DPR that is golden!! Well done my friend as this is absolutely your best work to date!

    This rivals the incoherent rambling word salad served to us by Drunk Uncle Donny in the Rose Garden this week.

    -- Posted by RSOTS on Thu, Jul 16, 2020, at 4:28 PM
  • I prefer to believe any scientist over the Banner Graphic comment section and I'll wear a mask, thanks!

    -- Posted by BJCP96 on Thu, Jul 16, 2020, at 8:28 PM
  • I would really like to know the true identity of Dread Pirate.

    I like to know when I’m in the presence of ridiculous people.

    -- Posted by GladysK on Fri, Jul 17, 2020, at 10:40 AM
  • If names were known, most of us wouldn't post what we post. The proof is (including myself) is we could and we purposely don't.

    I would assume you think only those you disagree with as ridiculous?

    -- Posted by beg on Fri, Jul 17, 2020, at 12:47 PM
  • It is not about you....glad to see it

    -- Posted by mrwalleye on Fri, Jul 17, 2020, at 11:19 PM
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    RSOTS - why do you even bother? You should hang out with GladysK... you two seem to be at about the same intellectual level. I might even send you some video clips of me so you can have your "two minutes hate" at your little get togethers. I am sure you could get a few others on here as well. Ooohh...maybe you could get T-shirts made. LOL.

    BJCP - If wearing a mask makes you feel better, please do so. And you are free to believe who you want. But when you are presented with information showing why they should not be trusted and that THEY have an agenda for lying to you and I don't...well, that just makes you look foolish.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Mon, Jul 20, 2020, at 9:19 AM
  • DRP -- "But when you are presented with information", No offense but just because you type a comment doesn't mean I'm going to take it seriously or use that "information" to make a choice. Again, a lot of the things you say are just talking points from Alt-Right websites or news channels, all you have to do is copy and paste into Google and most come right up. In fact, you might just copy and paste from those sites into the comments section, that would explain why all your comments are 4 paragraphs long and incoherent.

    -- Posted by BJCP96 on Mon, Jul 20, 2020, at 9:28 AM
  • DPR -- Example of you pulling stuff off of QAnon or Alt-Right media: "Perhaps you would believe Dr. Fauci? You know, the guy who wrote Hillary Clinton fan mail" -- This is a very popular QAnon narrative. Claiming that Fauci is working with Hillary Clinton and the deep state to cause an economic collapse and harm Trump. Where did you get your information about the fan mail DPR?

    -- Posted by BJCP96 on Mon, Jul 20, 2020, at 9:42 AM
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    DPR, Don't kid yourself. I in no way shape or form hate you or need to have a "two minute hate session" regarding you. I actually enjoy quite well the level of ignorance that you bring to the comments. It keeps the soul happy and from taking anything to serious.

    You're great for the comment section so please keep up the good work.

    -- Posted by RSOTS on Mon, Jul 20, 2020, at 1:07 PM
  • Gonna be easier to get in and out with the mask rebels and boycotters! Cool

    -- Posted by 1armyvet on Mon, Jul 20, 2020, at 5:53 PM
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