May 17, 2021
Walmart, Costco, and Starbucks among retailers not requiring shoppers to wear masks where permitted by local laws.
SHOW TRANSCRIPT
Don t be alarmed if you walk into your grocery store and notice a major change.
A handful of retailers are allowing fully vaccinated customers to enter their stores without a mask.
Places like Trader Joe s, Walmart, Sam s Club, Costco, Publix and Starbucks won t require people to have one on while shopping.
But the new, relaxed rules also depend on location. They apply to states without a state or local mask mandate.
The companies announced the change after the CDC s new mask guidance was released.
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Some of the largest retailers in the world aren’t waiting for the state and counties to decide whether to agree with the CDC that vaccinate people no longer need masks in most situations.
Trader Joe’s, Costco and Walmart have all announced they re now dropping their mask mandates for those who are fully vaccinated. Download our mobile app for iOS or Android to get the latest breaking news and local stories.
Word spread fast at Trader Joe’s, but customers aren’t taking them off just yet.
Diana Nakano of Santa Clara was surprised, and relieved, to hear the market was no longer requiring masks for those fully vaccinated. She kept her mask off as she went shopping , but emphasized she is not an anti-vaxxer. In fact, she’s been very diligent.
At Costco, face coverings will still be required across Illinois until Gov. J.B. Pritzker changes the state s mask mandate. However, according to Costco s website, masks do not need to be worn if a shopper is fully vaccinated in stores if the local jurisdiction does not have a mandate in place.
Costco noted customers do not need to provide proof of vaccination, but asked for members responsible and respectful cooperation with this revised policy. Face coverings are still required in Pharmacy, Optical and Hearing Aid areas. Costco continues to recommend that all members and guests, especially those who are at higher risk, wear a mask or shield, the website read.