As more states lift their mandates, most major retailers still need face masks



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While Alabama, Mississippi and Texas will soon join more than a dozen other U.S. states without statewide mask requirements, many large retailers and employers are not ready to take the mask off. mandatory. in the middle of a pandemic that killed more than 1,900 Americans on Thursday alone.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is the latest to report that masks will soon be optional in her state. Kay Thursday extended the state mask requirement until April 9, when she will let the decision lapse and leave the decision to individuals.

The Republican head of state’s announcement came two days after the governors of Texas and Mississippi said they would relinquish mask mandates and allowing businesses to operate at full capacity.

In decisions slammed as “Neanderthal Thought” by President Joe Biden, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, “We ensure that all Texas businesses and families have the freedom to determine their own destiny.” Meanwhile, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has said he is “getting rid of his duty to tell people what they can and can’t do” by lifting mask warrants in the state.

Despite their state policies, residents of Alabama, Texas and Mississippi will still be required to wear face masks if they are to enter many supermarkets and other large retail chains, but not all. These retailers, which include Kroger, Target and Walgreens, cited guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continuing to require masks and take other measures to protect workers and consumers from the virus.

Albertsons Companies, one of the country’s largest supermarket and drugstore chains, initially said it would drop its demands that customers wear face masks in its stores and that only its 325,000 employees would still need to cover up. the face. But the company revised its plans on Friday.

“Our frontline associates have not had full access to the vaccine. Thereafter, our stores and facilities in Texas will continue to require masks for associates, vendors and customers, regardless of the tenure of. mask lifted, “a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement, referring to the Texas Governor’s Order, which takes effect Wednesday, March 10.

Albertsons operates stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under banners such as Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. The company also operates more than 1,700 pharmacies in its grocery stores, and is one of 21 national chains and independent networks participating in a federal program to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines across the United States

Other participants in the federal effort are not prepared to let customers enter their stores and pharmacies without a mask.

Magnolia Pharmacy in Magnolia, Texas will continue to require masks “for the comfort of my staff and patients,” said owner Steven Hoffart, who noted that the nature of the business means sick people enter frequently. “It’s not really about COVID, it’s for stomach virus, flu, any illness, cough, cold – if I can stop it from spreading to my staff, it’s the main reason we ask patients to wear masks, ”Hoffart said.

A member of AmerisourceBergen’s Good Neighbor Pharmacy Network, Hoffart’s Pharmacy is currently immunizing between 100 and 150 people per day with the COVID-19 vaccines from the federal and state governments, a tiresome but joyful operation that he describes as taking place. akin to the management of a second company.

Walgreens to continue sweet reminders

“There are no changes at this time to the company mask mandate policy or the security protocols in effect in our stores or any workplace to protect our customers and team members. We follow current CDC and OSHA guidelines for safety protocols, “a Walgreens spokesperson said in an email.

It has always been the policy of the drugstore chain to “gently remind customers who shop without a mask of the requirement, but for the sake of the safety of our employees, we do not prevent these customers from shopping,” added a door. – speech, referring to the hostile. the reactions store workers sometimes face when trying to apply mask rules with customers.

Another major pharmacy, CVS Health, will also keep its face protection policy in place in stores nationwide, a CVS Health spokesperson citing “strong scientific evidence that masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19” .

“If a client is not wearing a mask or face mask, we will direct them to our signage and ask them to help them protect themselves and those around them by listening to the experts and answering the call for he wears a face mask, ”added the spokesperson. . “For security reasons, our employees are urged to avoid increasing confrontations with non-compliant customers and to help them complete their purchases as quickly as possible.”

Kroger, the country’s largest supermarket chain, “will continue to require everyone in our stores across the country to wear masks until all of our frontline grocers can receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” a spokesperson for CBS MoneyWatch said in an email. The company announced last month that it would give each of its 500,000 workers in 35 states $ 100 to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Target is also sticking to its requirement that customers and workers wear face masks, including those who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus, “in accordance with current CDC guidelines,” a spokesperson for the retailer said in a report. -mail. The retailer makes an exception for people with underlying health conditions and young children.

Customers who prefer not to wear masks can shop through Target’s contactless options, such as online shopping, the retailer added.


Grocery union demands vaccines and risk premium

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Aldi has said it will stick to its national policy requiring its workers and customers to wear masks at its more than 2,000 grocery stores in 36 states.

“We are aware of the lifting of the mask mandate in Texas and Mississippi, where we have stores. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been following CDC guidelines, and we do not plan to make any adjustments to our security measures at this time, ”a spokesperson for Aldi said in a statement. E-mail.

A spokesperson for The Home Depot said the retailer “requires associates and customers to wear masks in our stores or at any Home Depot establishment across the country. We will continue to follow CDC guidelines, as we ‘have always done “.

Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Whole Foods did not respond to requests for comment.

The National Retail Federation issued a statement reiterating that retail stores are private entities that can deny entry or service to those who refuse to adhere to their policies. In addition, “it is within their rights to implement and enforce policies that protect the health and safety of their employees and customers,” a spokesperson for the trade group said in a statement.

HEB, based in San Antonio, Texas, did not respond to a request for comment. But the grocery chain, which employs more than 135,000 people in more than 400 stores in Texas and Mexico, appeared to take a softer stance by reaching out to local media.

“While there are no more ordering for masks statewide, HEB believes it is important that masks be worn in public spaces until more Texans and our partners have access to the mask. Covid-19 vaccine, “a spokesperson for HEB told a Fox News affiliate. “HEB will always require all of our partners and suppliers to wear masks at work, and we urge all customers to wear a mask when in our stores.”



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