Kroger Co. has become the latest retailer to decide to require all its customers to cover their faces in their stores. The new policy will take effect July 22 after the Cincinnati-based company released the news last week.
Corporate Communications Chief Kristal Howard shared with Supermarket news The decision comes as a result of spikes in COVID-19 cases across the country, especially in the south and west. He noted that the company is “committed to doing our part to help reduce the spread of the virus.” Howard said it is the company’s responsibility to ensure safety among its workers and customers. Kroger employees had been the only people in the store to wear face masks; a rule established on April 26. The move comes at a time when other major retailers, such as Target, Walmart, and Kohl’s, have made the same announcement by enacting a policy for their customers to cover their faces.
Kroger had previously had an employee who worked at a distribution center who tested positive for coronavirus in April. The company also made headlines at the start of the pandemic after instilling a “Hero Pay” system for employees who had been working at the height of the outbreak. However, that system was reduced in the second week of May.
In his message on the new policy, Howard shared that an additional step is being taken to make everyone at the company understand that “additional precautions are needed to protect our country.” While some of the hardest hit states in March and April have begun to progress through their phased reopens, the virus has shifted down and out to areas like Florida and California. The Sunshine State recently reported a record number of positive daily cases, counting more than 15,000 in a single day, while just posting its fifth consecutive day on Monday with more than 10,000 positive tests in 24 hours. Meanwhile, California has also seen its number increase, including in hospitalizations.
CVS was also among the top companies that recently applied facial coatings at all of their stores. Larry Merlo, the CEO of CVS, spoke about the importance of face masks in an interview at the New York Times, “As individuals, we have that responsibility. My mask protects you, and your mask protects me. “
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