The wearing of masks will be required for many corporate businesses starting tomorrow (Monday, July 20, 2020) during the coronavirus pandemic.

The action was taken by the companies to help protect employees and customers.

Retailers have largely been reluctant to police customers when it comes to wearing of masks but certain factors have started to force their hand. Workers got sick or raised safety concerns. And customers had new expectations for safety measures during the pandemic, from hand sanitizer stations to employees wearing masks and standing behind plexiglass.

As the number of active cases of COVID-19 increases again in the nation, it has raised concerns businesses could be forced to limit operations or shut down again.

That is why corporate stores are taking action now because no one wants a shut down again.

Retailers will take different approaches to enforce the new policies, from stationing an employee by the door to providing complimentary masks.

Small children and adults who have medical breathing problems will be exempt from the mask requirement.

The question many have is can these businesses require customers to wear masks while shopping in their stores?

Accordind to several legal officials, the answer is simply….yes.

These stores requiring the masks are corporate owned. That simply means they can make their own rules to protect their employees and shoppers as long as it is done legally.

Remember some time ago a now familiar statement was placed on doors “No shirt, no shoes, no service”….same thing basically today but now the requirement is a mask.

It should be noted at this point the decision to put the mask mandate into place was NOT made locally or by a select group of stores in one company. The decision was made at the corporate level involving ALL of the stores they own.

There will be individuals who do not agree with this but they should not take it out on employees or managers of a local store because this decision is out of their hands. They can only put into place the instructions given to them by their corporate office.

Here is the list of companies (as of Sunday, July 19, 2020) requiring customers to wear masks while inside the stores. Bear in mind this list can and probably will grow in the next few days:

STARTING MONDAY, JULY 20, 2020

Apple Stores

Best Buy

CVS

Kohls

Lowes

Sam’s Club

Walgreens

Walmart

STARTING TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020

Publix

STARTING WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020

Kroger

STARTING THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

Food City

STARTING MONDAY, JULY 27, 2020

Aldi

GameStop

STARTING SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2020

Target

OTHER COMPANIES

Dollar Tree – requiring all employees and vendors to wear face coverings when inside the stores. The company requests that its customers wear face coverings and require face coverings where required by state or local ordinances.