Walmart will start requiring all customers to wear masks
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
Uh oh...
bluedye33139
(1,474 posts)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
(8,020 posts)be doing, we truly are depending on corporations for governance, fascism's wet dream.
FakeNoose
(32,656 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,199 posts)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
(11,519 posts)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
(120 posts)durablend
(7,462 posts)C Moon
(12,213 posts)Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)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
(11,949 posts)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
(17,270 posts)The sooner more businesses realize this, the sooner we get back to normal.
Bengus81
(6,931 posts)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.
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
(23,354 posts)Don't MAKE me hit you with this walker. Put on a mask.
dalton99a
(81,527 posts)Stallion
(6,476 posts)Aristus
(66,403 posts)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
(1,351 posts)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
(18,470 posts)I think if you go later in the day that's when you'll see the unmasked morons.
47of74
(18,470 posts)Doreen
(11,686 posts)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
(65,081 posts)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
(16,193 posts)Those "personal freedumb" types ain't gonna like that.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,479 posts)mwooldri
(10,303 posts)I'm presently in Florida, manager of the Flying J going around reprimanding customers for having no masks.
yaesu
(8,020 posts)I hope they give them hazard pay do to the tRumpsters throwing fits.
AKing
(511 posts)steve2470
(37,457 posts)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
(6,595 posts)Or walk around with their spider-veined schnozzez hanging out.
Steelrolled
(2,022 posts)At least it forces customers to have a mask.
jcgoldie
(11,631 posts)I dont 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
(42,862 posts)Steelrolled
(2,022 posts)womanofthehills
(8,721 posts)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.