Walmart will start requiring all customers to wear masks

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Business

New York (CNN Business) Walmart, the world's largest retailer, is the latest national chain to require all customers to wear masks. The change will start next week. Starbucks (SBUX)said last week that it will require customers to wear facial coverings or masks in all 9,000 of its company-owned US stores beginning Wednesday. Best Buy (BBY) announced Tuesday that it will also require all shoppers coming into its approximately 1,000 stores to wear face masks. Costco (COST) began requiring its members to wear masks in stores beginning in May.

Although no federal mandate to wear a mask exists, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says everyone "should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public." The CDC said "face coverings are meant to protect other people." Most major retailers and grocers initially hesitated to enact their own mask mandates for customers during the pandemic, partly over fears of antagonizing shoppers who refuse to wear them. Retailers have said they are reluctant to put their employees in the position of enforcing mask requirements.

But the ground in the retail and restaurant industries has shifted in recent weeks as the coronavirus pandemic worsens. More than 3.3 million people have now tested positive for the coronavirus nationwide and more than 130,000 have died. Cases are climbing in much of the country and many cities and states are reimposing restrictions to contain new outbreaks, including mask requirements in public settings.

"As the number of confirmed cases has spiked in communities across the country recently, so too have the number and types of face covering mandates being implemented," Walmart said in a news release Wednesday. About 65% of its more than 5,000 stores, including its Sam's Club locations, are located in areas where there is government mandate on face coverings. "To help bring consistency across stores and clubs, we will require all shoppers to wear a face covering starting Monday, July 20. This will give us time to inform customers and members of the changes, post signage and train associates on the new protocols," the company said. Industry groups and unions have also stepped up their calls around mask requirements for customers.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/15/business/walmart-masks/index.html

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Uh oh...

[bluedye33139]

1. I've been impressed by how they handle this in my conservative rural area

We're on the Washington/Idaho border, so a ton of Idaho people come over to the store half a mile from the Washington border. They have a friendly guy at the front greeting people and getting them to mask up, and the tone is positive and the people handle it well. I literally haven't seen anyone even complain. They've required masks for at least 2 months, although my memory of exact dates is super blurry in this pandemic. It's been over 2 months.

They capped the number of people in the store, but that restriction has loosened a little bit.

All in all, I'm surprised by how little negativity I've seen from people who are asked to wear masks.

[yaesu]

2. they hinted about this yesterday after bestbuy announced, corporate is doing what gov should

be doing, we truly are depending on corporations for governance, fascism's wet dream.

[FakeNoose]

17. Things sure were different in 1918

[bucolic_frolic]

3. That's good, I saw Darwinists in Walmart, Lowes, Giant

yesterday. Some seem to think half a mask is ok, and removing them in obscure stale corners is ok.

One guy had a Tshirt bundled around his head just below the eyes. He did look a little weird.

Over these months I've also seen an occasional employee with the mask pulled down. Most people seem to be adjusting to it.

Prepare for conflict in red state Walmarts.

[groundloop]

10. "Prepare for conflict in red state Walmarts" - YEP..... I expect a war at my local store

I'm glad that businesses are at long last doing what our 'leaders' won't. I'm in very red, rural Alabama, and expect a ton of push back. I guess time will tell.

[Denvermosaic]

4. That's not gonna well with the trump hillbillies.

[durablend]

22. Karen tantrums incoming...

[C Moon]

5. Oh boy.

[Sherman A1]

6. Good

[TreasonousBastard]

7. NOT GOOD ENOUGH! The local Walmarts along with Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, and...

other national chains here have required masks for months.

Why is that?

Because NEW YORK LAW REQUIRES MASKS

Private companies balance customers and public policy-- if the policy is not popular, they won't do it. It is a fundamental function of government to impose policy and good order if the private sector won't.

Apparently, Walmart has reached a tipping point where enough customers are demanding masking to make it worth while for them. That is a good thing, but where are the dickless wonders in state and local governments who are still claiming the people have a "right" to refuse masking? They are, alas, proving Aristotle's thesis that in a democracy governments will cave to the people.

[GulfCoast66]

8. So the businesses have finally figured it out...

The only thing that is going to allow the economy to recover is getting the virus under control. The best way we have to do that is masks.

[KS Toronado]

11. Exactly, the only way to get the economy to recover is getting the virus under control.

The sooner more businesses realize this, the sooner we get back to normal.

[Bengus81]

9. Good!! Now hire some REAL security at the front door instead of asking a 70 year old greeter

To fight with beer gut, MAGA hat wearing rednecks getting supplies for another drunk at the lake. Off duty police at least where I live CAN wear their uniforms.


DO NOT ask employee's to enforce this.

[Leghorn21]

15. YEP

The way things have been going, workers trying to enforce this are going to be yelled at, beaten or shot. I wish I was kidding.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

25. Some of those 70-year-olds can be pretty mean.

Don't MAKE me hit you with this walker. Put on a mask.

[dalton99a]

12. About damn time.

[Stallion]

13. Can't Wait for the "Masked Women of Walmart"

[Aristus]

14. This is going to be fun.

It's going to unleash a legion of 400lbs meth addicts in thongs and sweatshirts screaming and throwing merchandise.

It's going to make for some interesting television...

[Bigredhunk]

16. Nice!

I was at the Dubuque, IA location yesterday (Tuesday, 7/14). I think I only saw one person (guy, 55-60) without a mask. I was surprised everyone else was wearing masks. Then again, it was 8'ish in the morning, and it wasn't very busy.

[47of74]

18. I'm in that part of Iowa myself

I think if you go later in the day that's when you'll see the unmasked morons.

[47of74]

19. Yeah got my popcorn ready

[Doreen]

20. The Walmart wear I live surprised me.

They are not allowing people in without a mask. They have been doing that for about a week and I live in a very red county. The next problem however is enforcing it once they get inside. A lot of people when they get in pull the mask down under their nose. Signs should say "Masks must be PROPERLY worn." Along with those idiot pictures showing how a properly worn mask looks and how an improperly worn mask looks.

[ProfessorGAC]

31. Same Around Here

I'm not sure how far back they go on enforcement. Was there last Friday (I think) but hadn't been there for 6 or 7 weeks prior to that.
They have a guy with a tablet counting ins & outs, controlling occupancy, and enforcing masks.
Was glad, but surprised to see it.

[AllyCat]

21. Good thing they stopped selling guns and ammo (I think)

Those "personal freedumb" types ain't gonna like that.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

23. "...START..."?????

[mwooldri]

24. Even Pilot & Flying J are getting in on this.

I'm presently in Florida, manager of the Flying J going around reprimanding customers for having no masks.

[yaesu]

26. Walmart will have a mask ambassador at the door asking people to mask up

I hope they give them hazard pay do to the tRumpsters throwing fits.

[AKing]

27. Too early to predict a shooting because some Covidiot refuses to wear a mask? Asking for a friend

[steve2470]

28. They better give hazard pay and frequent breaks to those front door people

Also, put law enforcement on speed dial. Fox News, OANN, Youtube and Twitter will soon be full of stupid, ignorant entitled idiots wanting their FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (to get sick and spread the virus)

[Talitha]

29. What's the use? The morons will unmask as soon as they're in the aisles.

Or walk around with their spider-veined schnozzez hanging out.

[Steelrolled]

33. I'll take anything we can get.

At least it forces customers to have a mask.

[jcgoldie]

34. Exactly what happens

I don’t frequent wal mart had not been there in a year probably because I dont like the business model but I stopped there just yesterday because my wife said they had my valentinas the grocery store quit carrying...

Two old guys at the entrance mask checking with a big sign. Once you are inside 60% of the ppl unmasked I guess they just stuffed them in their pockets...

[NurseJackie]

30. Why wait a week? Why not RIGHT NOW? Why not three months ago??

[Steelrolled]

32. Good news.

[womanofthehills]

35. The Walmart in Las Cruces, NM was in big trouble with our gov last week

They had workers test positive and Walmart did not tell the other workers they had worked with employees who were positive. So 4 employees came down with the virus. Then, they did not make the sick staff stay home and quarantine for 14 days. They got closed down and have to decontaminate their store.