Governor Ron DeSantis has refused to make facial coatings mandatory in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that has not stopped a large number of chain stores located in and around The Villages from taking up the matter in their own hands.
Starting Tuesday, Publix, Florida’s friendliest city largest supermarket, will require its customers to wear masks while shopping. In a post on her company’s website, Publix said the mandate is encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control for most people and offered thanks to customers for doing their part to limit the spread of the virus.
Kohl’s, which is located at Lady Lake Crossing, already required its employees to wear masks, and as of Monday, customers must do the same, with the exception of those who cannot wear face covers for medical reasons.
“As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, face coverage mandates have grown to apply to approximately 70% of our store base,” states the company’s website. “Therefore, we have made the decision to take a consistent approach across our fleet of stores.”
Target, at Rolling Acres Plaza, and Best Buy, located near Lady Lake, are following suit with mask policies. The new Best Buy policy went into effect on Wednesday and Target’s mask mandate begins on August 1, excluding young children and those with underlying medical conditions.
“This is based on over 80% of our stores that already require guests to wear face covers due to local and state regulations,” Target said in a prepared statement, adding that stores will provide disposable masks for customers who do not have them. . “Given the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on the role masks play in preventing the spread of Coronavirus, our store team members also wear masks when they come to work, which we provide “
The new mandates take effect when CDC Director Robert Redfield claims that the increase in COVID-19 could be brought under control in 4-6 weeks if people were disciplined for wearing masks. Leesburg Commissioners recently implemented a policy requiring masks in all city-owned buildings, and the Marion County Commission is encouraging residents to wear masks when they are in public and unable to practice social distancing.
The move to demand masks from the multitude of local stores also follows a similar decision made by Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. Shoppers living at The Villages offered a mixed reaction to that decision on Wednesday, with some saying they would like to see more stores do the same, and others questioned the safety of wearing masks and suggested that stores do not have the legal right to require such a requirement. .
