Wearing face masks in public is mandatory in some states, counties, and cities. But in areas where masks or face coverings are not compulsory, individual businesses may decide to enforce a mask policy or encourage shoppers to wear masks.
H-E-B is the latest store requiring shoppers to wear face masks, with the new policy going into effect from July 1, joining stores such as Whole Foods and Costco.
Major store chains such as Walmart and Trader Joe’s are generally encouraging customers to wear masks, but are enforcing masks depending on local guidelines.
Which stores require shoppers to wear face masks?
- Whole Foods
- H-E-B
- Costco
- Walgreens
Whole Foods
Whole Foods is requesting its shoppers wear face masks and will provide masks to customers who do not have their own.
H-E-B
H-E-B is requiring its shoppers to wear masks from July 1, following 85 percent of its stores already operating with mandatory mask policies.
Costco
Costco requires all shoppers to wear face masks, except for children under the age of two and people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask.
Walgreens
Walgreens is asking customers to wear face masks, but will not enforce the rule or stop shoppers from entering the store, out of concern for the workers’ safety.
Stores that require masks following local guidelines
Albertsons
Albertsons is requiring customers to wear masks in select locations, so check with your local store for more information.
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s encourages customers to wear masks or face coverings when shopping at its stores, and some Trader Joes stores are requiring masks, following local guidelines.
Walmart
Walmart requires its employees to wear masks but encourages shoppers to do so. However, some Walmart stores may require its shoppers to wear masks, depending on location and whether local authorities are requiring masks in public.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club encourages its customers to wear masks, but similar to its parent company Walmart, certain locations may make masks mandatory.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is requiring customers to wear masks in certain locations, so check with your local store before heading out without a mask.
Target
Target requires shoppers to wear masks in locations where government officials have made wearing masks mandatory.
Kohl’s
Kohl’s is following local guidelines when implementing face mask policies at its stores.
Kroger
Kroger is encouraging shoppers to wear masks when visiting its stores.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing face masks to reduce the spread of coronavirus: “Cloth face coverings may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others. Wearing a cloth face covering will help protect people around you, including those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and workers who frequently come into close contact with other people (e.g., in stores and restaurants).
“Cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings. The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when cloth face coverings are used along with other preventive measures, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.”
The map below from Statista shows which states have reopened and are reopening, and which are pausing or reversing their decision.