WASHINGTON- Persons who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 will be able to shop without masks at many Walmart, Costco and Trader Joe’s locations nationwide, the companies said in separate news releases Friday.
The announcements come a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors, except when in healthcare settings, on public transportation, or in other areas where governments require masks.
The country’s largest retailer and employer Walmart said Friday that customers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will not need to wear a mask in its stores unless one is required by state or local laws.
“The change in its mask policy takes effect immediately at Walmart stores and its membership warehouse, Sam’s Club,” Walmart said in a memo sent to employees. Starting Tuesday, it said employees who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear a mask while working at its stores, offices or other facilities.
The memo was from John Furner, Walmart U.S. CEO; Kath McLay, Sam’s Club CEO; and Dr. Cheryl Pegus, Walmart’s executive vice president of health and wellness.
Walmart announcement did not indicate that it plans to ask for any proof of vaccination.
Costco started to allow fully vaccinated members and guests to enter without a face mask or face shield on Friday in jurisdictions that don’t have mask mandates, according to its website. Face coverings are still required in healthcare settings, such as Costco’s pharmacy, optical and hearing aid areas.
At Trader Joe’s, “we encourage customers to follow the guidance of health officials, including, as appropriate, CDC guidelines that advise customers who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks while shopping,” the grocery chain said in a statement on its website Friday.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently announced new guidance regarding COVID-19 and vaccines. Among other things, the CDC now says that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask in most settings, except where required by state and local laws. People are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine.
Based on CDC’s new guidance regarding vaccine effectiveness, the country’s largest retailers and employers have decided to modify their policy regarding face coverings in their store locations in the U.S.
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