Costco will require people with medical mask waivers to wear face shields

Costco updated its face protection policy to require people with medical exemption to wear a mask to wear a face shield in the store instead.

The company will require all members, guests and employees to wear a face shield or face shield in the store starting November 16, except for children under 2, according to an updated guideline on Tuesday.

“Members and guests should wear a face mask that covers their mouth and nose at all times,” says the guide. “People who cannot wear a face shield due to a health problem should wear a face shield.”

“Access to Costco will only be granted to those who wear a face mask or face shield,” he added.

The guidelines are a change from Costco’s original mask mandate that began on May 4, which exempted those who could not wear a mask due to a medical issue.

President and CEO Craig Jelinek announced the change in a letter to Costco members saying, “It is no longer the case.”

“If a member has a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, they should wear a face shield at Costco,” he says.

“This updated policy may seem inconvenient to some, but we believe the added security is worth any inconvenience,” he continued. “Our goal is to continue to provide a safe shopping environment for our members and guests, and to provide a safe working environment for our employees.”

Costco stressed that masks and face shields “should not be seen as a substitute for social distancing” and encouraged shoppers to continue to practice this.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people wear masks in public spaces where people cannot socially distance themselves. The health agency notes that face shields are used for eye protection but does not recommend them as a substitute for masks.

“At this time, it is not known what level of protection a face shield provides to nearby people against the wearer’s respiratory droplet projections,” the CDC guidance read. “There is currently not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of face shields for source control. Therefore, the CDC does not currently recommend the use of face shields as a replacement for masks. “

The latest indications come as the United States sees massive spikes in coronavirus cases, with the country recording more than 140,000 confirmed infections on Wednesday.