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Keep your mask handy: These chains and retailers are maintaining their face covering policies

Keep your mask handy: These chains and retailers are maintaining their face covering policies
the question on everyone's lips as vaccines increased daily in the number of people immunized grows exponentially is do we still have to wear masks outdoors? Let's investigate. According to NBC, more than 84 million adults are now fully vaccinated against Covid 19 and apparently the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Rochelle WAlensky told today that we'll be looking at the outdoor masking question, but also in the context of the fact that we still have people who are dying of Covid 19. However, experts are arguing irrespective of being indoors or outdoors or whether you are vaccinated or not, masks are a social courtesy and help to model behavior for unvaccinated individuals. NPR reports two dozen states have statewide mask mandates requiring everyone to wear masks outside when not able to stay six ft apart. This is regardless of estimates, suggesting only one in 1000 infections happen outside. The new york times says your mask requirements do and will depend on local public health rules and whether you are with vaccinated individuals or not. The risk of contraction will continue to mitigate as more people get vaccinated and cases continue to decline. Yeah.
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Keep your mask handy: These chains and retailers are maintaining their face covering policies
As more areas begin to relax mask mandates, not all retailers are ready to follow suit. Here are some of the largest that continue to maintain face coverings for customers.AldiOn its website, Aldi says properly fitted face coverings are required for both customers and employees. “We know that access to affordable groceries is essential and we are committed to keeping our shelves stocked and providing a safe and comfortable shopping experience,” the retailer said. AppleSince reopening its doors to customers in May 2020, the tech giant has had a policy of face coverings for both customers and employees. "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," Apple said on its website.Best BuyBest Buy stores are open for in-person shopping where local regulations permit. "To ensure your safety, we are limiting store traffic, maintaining proper social distancing, and requiring all customers and employees to wear masks at all times inside the store," the retailer said.Chipotle The chain "has supplied non-medical masks for all employees to wear as part of their uniform and proactively made the decision to require guests to wear masks in all restaurants," according to its website. CostcoCostco customers and employees must wear a face mask that covers their mouth and nose at all times. The retailer says individuals who are unable to wear a face mask due to a medical condition must instead wear a face shield. Children under 2 years old are exempt from the face-covering policy. "Entry to Costco will be granted only to those wearing a face mask or face shield, or a more restrictive face covering if locally required," the company said.CVS PharmacyThe retailer is maintaining its requirement for face coverings in its locations. "Children under 2 years old and people with medical conditions or disabilities who may be adversely affected by a face covering do not need to wear one," CVS Pharmacy said.Dollar GeneralEmployees, vendors and customers are required to wear face coverings in all Dollar General stores, distribution centers and offices. There are some exemptions to this rule. Those "include situations where wearing a mask is not recommended due to age, a health or medical condition, or is otherwise exempted by state or local order," the company said.Dollar Tree & Family DollarDollar Tree, along with its subsidiary Family Dollar, continues to require masks in locations, per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That requirement is for all customers, employees and vendors. Dunkin'Since last August, Dunkin' has required face coverings for customers at all of its locations. "At Dunkin', where we already require all restaurant employees to wear face masks and have updated our health and safety standards to reflect the times, we believe that wearing a mask is a simple step we can all take to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and help to keep guests and restaurant crew safe," the chain said.Home DepotHome Depot requires all employees and customers to wear a face covering at its stores. The home improvement retailer says it will provide a face covering to anyone entering a store and in need of one.Kohl'sIf you're shopping in-store at Kohl's, make sure you bring your mask. The retailer requires all customers to wear a face covering. "This mask requirement does not apply to individuals unable to wear a mask for medical reasons," the company said.KrogerKroger requires face coverings for both employees and customers at all of its locations. Face coverings will be supplied to anyone in need of one at stories within Kroger's portfolio.Lowe'sThe home improvement chain requires all of its employees to wear masks at all locations while working with customers. Lowe's told our New Hampshire station, WMUR, that it is "consistently requesting" that customers wear masks in its stores.McDonald'sMcDonald's employees are required to wear masks or face coverings along with gloves. The fast-food chain says it has made masks available for customers in municipalities where they are required.Sam's ClubAt Sam's Club, both employees and customers are required to wear a face covering while at any of the retailer’s locations. StarbucksThe coffee chain requires all customers entering its stores to wear a face covering. "It is our responsibility to protect our partners, and we are committed to meeting or exceeding all public health mandates," Starbucks said on its website. Starbucks adds that its partners "have the right and responsibility to refuse service to customers who are not wearing facial coverings."TargetTarget requires all customers to wear masks or face coverings in all stores. Customers with underlying medical conditions and young children are exempt from the retailer's requirement. All Target employees are also required to wear a mask regardless of whether they have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Trader Joe's Customers and employees at Trader Joe’s locations are required to wear masks or face coverings. "Any customer with a disability that precludes them from wearing a mask will be accommodated," Trader Joe’s said. The retailer added that young children are encouraged but not required to wear masks. "In a nutshell, our crew members wear masks approximately 8 hours a day and we ask our customers to wear them for the short time they shop with us," its website states.WalgreensAt Walgreens, customers are required to wear face covers before entering the store except where doing so would inhibit the individual’s health or where the individual is under 2 years of age. WalmartThe largest big-box retailer in the United States will require customers nationwide to wear a face covering if they are to enter the store.

As more areas begin to relax mask mandates, not all retailers are ready to follow suit. Here are some of the largest that continue to maintain face coverings for customers.

Aldi

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, Aldi says properly fitted face coverings are required for both customers and employees. “We know that access to affordable groceries is essential and we are committed to keeping our shelves stocked and providing a safe and comfortable shopping experience,” the retailer said.

Apple

Since reopening its doors to customers in May 2020, the tech giant has had a policy of face coverings for both customers and employees. "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," on its website.

Best Buy

Best Buy stores are open for in-person shopping where local regulations permit. "To ensure your safety, we are limiting store traffic, maintaining proper social distancing, and requiring all customers and employees to wear masks at all times inside the store," the retailer .

Chipotle

The chain "has supplied non-medical masks for all employees to wear as part of their uniform and proactively made the decision to require guests to wear masks in all restaurants," according to its .

Costco

Costco customers and employees must wear a face mask that covers their mouth and nose at all times. The retailer says individuals who are unable to wear a face mask due to a medical condition must instead wear a face shield. Children under 2 years old are exempt from the face-covering policy. "Entry to Costco will be granted only to those wearing a face mask or face shield, or a more restrictive face covering if locally required," the said.

CVS Pharmacy

The retailer is maintaining its for face coverings in its locations. "Children under 2 years old and people with medical conditions or disabilities who may be adversely affected by a face covering do not need to wear one," CVS Pharmacy said.

Dollar General

Employees, vendors and customers are required to wear face coverings in all Dollar General stores, distribution centers and offices. There are some exemptions to this rule. Those "include situations where wearing a mask is not recommended due to age, a health or medical condition, or is otherwise exempted by state or local order," the .

Dollar Tree & Family Dollar

, along with its subsidiary , continues to require masks in locations, per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That requirement is for all customers, employees and vendors.

Dunkin'

Since last August, Dunkin' has required face coverings for customers at all of its locations. "At Dunkin', where we already require all restaurant employees to wear face masks and have updated our health and safety standards to reflect the times, we believe that wearing a mask is a simple step we can all take to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and help to keep guests and restaurant crew safe," the chain said.

Home Depot

requires all employees and customers to wear a face covering at its stores. The home improvement retailer says it will provide a face covering to anyone entering a store and in need of one.

Kohl's

If you're shopping in-store at , make sure you bring your mask. The retailer requires all customers to wear a face covering. "This mask requirement does not apply to individuals unable to wear a mask for medical reasons," the company said.

Kroger

requires face coverings for both employees and customers at all of its locations. Face coverings will be supplied to anyone in need of one at stories within Kroger's portfolio.

Lowe's

The home improvement chain requires all of its employees to wear masks at all locations while working with customers. Lowe's told our New Hampshire station, WMUR, that it is "consistently requesting" that customers wear masks in its stores.

McDonald's

McDonald's employees are required to wear masks or face coverings along with gloves. The fast-food chain it has made masks available for customers in municipalities where they are required.

Sam's Club

At , both employees and customers are required to wear a face covering while at any of the retailer’s locations.

Starbucks

The coffee chain requires all customers entering its stores to wear a face covering. "It is our responsibility to protect our partners, and we are committed to meeting or exceeding all public health mandates," said on its website. Starbucks adds that its partners "have the right and responsibility to refuse service to customers who are not wearing facial coverings."

Target

requires all customers to wear masks or face coverings in all stores. Customers with underlying medical conditions and young children are exempt from the retailer's requirement. All Target employees are also required to wear a mask regardless of whether they have received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Trader Joe's

Customers and employees at locations are required to wear masks or face coverings. "Any customer with a disability that precludes them from wearing a mask will be accommodated," Trader Joe’s said. The retailer added that young children are encouraged but not required to wear masks. "In a nutshell, our crew members wear masks approximately 8 hours a day and we ask our customers to wear them for the short time they shop with us," its website states.

Walgreens

At Walgreens, customers are to wear face covers before entering the store except where doing so would inhibit the individual’s health or where the individual is under 2 years of age.

Walmart

The largest big-box in the United States will require customers nationwide to wear a face covering if they are to enter the store.