These stores are requiring or encouraging masks again

Some are promoting their use regardless of vaccination status

Many retailers have again started to require or strongly encourage masks, regardless of vaccination status, as case rates of highly infectious COVID-19 delta variant climb.

The change comes just a few months after most national retailers dropped mask mandates that had been in place since the beginning of the pandemic.

Pennsylvania’s own statewide mask mandate was lifted June 28 after the state failed to reach a 70% threshold of fully vaccinated adults, which would have trigged the mandate to end earlier.

Before the state’s mandate was lifted, The Morning Call hosted an informal poll on Twitter on the topic. It showed the majority of people who responded would not continue to wear a mask after the mandate was lifted, or about 48% of the almost 400 people who responded. About 29% said they would, while 23% were unsure.

Below, find the major national retailers that have changed their mask policies recently:

Dunkin’

Starting Thursday, all patrons who go inside Dunkin’ stores are required to wear masks, according to a news release from the company.

“At Dunkin’, where we already require all restaurant employees to wear face masks and have updated our health and safety standards to reflect the times, we believe that wearing a mask is a simple step we can all take to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and help to keep guests and restaurant crew safe,” according to the release.

Home Depot

On Monday, Home Depot officials announced the company’s employees, contractors and vendors are again required to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. They’ll also ask customers to wear masks in stores and offer masks to those who don’t have one.

Lowe’s

Employees are required to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status, the company said Monday.

“Lowe’s will continue to abide by all state and local mask mandates,” officials said. “Stores will have signs encouraging customers to wear masks, and free masks will continue to be available for customers who request them.”

Starbucks

Starbucks officials are encouraging patrons to wear a mask inside their stores, regardless of vaccination status.

Starting Thursday, all employees are required to wear facial coverings while on shift.

Target

Masks are returning to Target too. Face coverings are required of employees and recommended to all shoppers in areas that are seeing higher rates of transmission.

“Based on the CDC’s updated guidance, we require face coverings for our team

members and strongly recommend face coverings for all guests in areas with substantial

or high risk of transmission, as defined by the CDC,” according to a Monday news release from

the company.

Walmart

Walmart is requiring employees to wear masks in counties with substantial or high transmission regardless of vaccination status and encouraging, but not requiring, customers to do the same.

“In these counties and where there are state or local mask mandates, associates will be required to wear masks inside our facilities, including stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers,” according to a Friday news release from the

company.

Wegmans

Wegmans’ employees are now required to wear masks, the company announced Tuesday. Customers are strongly encouraged to wear

masks too.