These are the main retailers that require customers to wear face masks

As Americans struggle with what health officials say is one of the easiest ways to corner the coronavirus, more and more major retailers are telling shoppers that they will have to wear a face mask or consider other options like pickup on the sidewalk.

Walmart, Target and CVS are among those enacting policies that require customers to join their employees in having to wear a face mask to help curb the spread of COVID-19, which is emerging in many parts of the country and has killed more than 141,000 Americans.

The practice recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is widely used in other nations fighting the pandemic, but has been particularly difficult to apply in the US, where they are told that wearing a mask is a affront to personal liberty by some Americans

Still, the country’s fight to contain the virus has more state and local governments enacting mask rules, and the National Retail Federation expressed hope that Walmart joining the effort would be a “turning point in this health debate. public “as Walmart is the largest retailer in the country. , with almost 4,800 stores in the United States and more than $ 514 billion in total revenue last year.

The trade group urged other retailers to do the same, citing health risks for retail workers of customers who do not wear masks. “Workers serving clients should not have to make a critical decision about whether they should risk exposing themselves to an infection or lose their job because a minority of people refuse to wear masks to help stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus,” The group said in a sentence.

Here is a rundown of retailers telling customers to mask or consider other means of shopping:

• Best Buy – The nation’s largest electronics retailer requires customers to wear face masks, with young children, and those who are unable to wear a mask for health reasons exempt from the policy, effective July 15.
• BJ Wholesale Club – Retailer beginning July 20 requires face coatings covering both mouth and nose while shopping at their locations, with children under 2 years exempt. Those who do not want to wear a mask can buy online.
• Costco – The wholesale club retailer in early May ordered workers and customers wear masks in its 547 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, exempting young children and those with medical conditions that prevent wearing a mask.
• CVS —The drugstore giant requires all customers to use facial coverage at its more than 9,900 stores nationwide beginning July 20. “To be clear, we are not asking our store employees to play the role of executors,” said its chief operating officer.
• Dierbergs Markets – The Midwest supermarket chain requires customers to wear masks beginning July 20, excluding those under the age of nine and those with medical conditions that prevent them from covering their faces.
• Kohls – The retailer will require customers to wear a face cover in their stores beginning July 20. Greetings will be received at store entrances to remind people of the requirement, which will not apply to those who are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, the company said.
• Kroger – The largest supermarket chain in the US will require masks at all its locations beginning July 22. Young children are exempt, and those who cannot comply due to a medical condition should use alternatives such as face shields or pick up or delivery services.
• Publix – The supermarket chain requires all customers to wear face covers in its 1,252 stores beginning July 21, exempting young children and those with medical conditions who cannot wear masks.
• Sam’s club – Like its parent company. Walmart, the wholesale club, requires customers to wear masks at its 599 locations through July 20, with associates posted at the entrances to remind shoppers of the requirement and offer complimentary masks.
• Schnuck Markets – The regional supermarket requires masks beginning July 20 at its 113 locations in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa. Young children and those with medical conditions and unable to cover their faces are excluded from the rule.
• Starbucks – The coffee giant mandatory masks at company-owned stores in the U.S. beginning July 15. In cafes where there is no local government mandate, customers without masks can order in a van on the sidewalk, or receive Starbucks.
• objective – Target requires all shoppers, except young children and those with underlying health conditions, to wear masks beginning August 1. More than 80% of the 1,800 chain stores already require masks due to state and local regulations.
• Walmart – The nation’s largest private employer, with 1.5 million workers in the U.S., requires all shoppers to cover their faces as of July 20, at its 4,753 stores in the U.S. Walmart’s “health ambassadors” in black poles are stationed at the entrances to facilitate the process, the company said.