Walmart To Require Masks For All Customers Beginning Next Week

ACROSS CONNECTICUT — Walmart announced Wednesday that customers will be required to wear masks at all of its U.S. stores beginning next week. The same will go at Sam's Club locations.

The announcement was made in a narrative posted by Walmart U.S. Chief Operating Officer Dacona Smith and Sam's Club COO Lance de la Rosa. The announcement said the policy was, in part, about "consistency" across the country. About 65 percent of Walmart's more than 5,000 stores, including its Sam's Club locations, are located in areas where there is a government mandate on face coverings, the executives said.

The policy takes effect July 20.

"As the number of confirmed cases has spiked in communities across the country recently, so too, have the number and types of face covering mandates being implemented," the execs said. "To help bring consistency across stores and clubs, we will require all shoppers to wear a face covering starting Monday, July 20. While we're certainly not the first business to require face coverings, we know this is a simple step everyone can take for their safety and the safety of others in our facilities."

Walmart will be featuring "clear signage" at the fronts of stores.

Walmart has also created the role of "health ambassador" for its stores. The ambassadors will be stationed near entrances "to remind those without a mask of our new requirements." The ambassadors have received "special training" to help "make the process as smooth as possible for customers," the COOs said. They will be dressed in black polo shirts and will "work with customers who show up at a store without a face covering to try and find a solution."

"Solutions" for Walmart are currently being discussed at the executive level, the COOs said.

At Sam's Club locations, associates at the entrances, "will follow the same process with members, politely reminding them of our requirement to wear a face covering when shopping with us." Complimentary masks will be provided if a member doesn’t have one and members can purchase masks in the club, the announcement says.

All stores will have a single entrances.

The COOs also said, "It may not be possible for everyone to wear a face covering ... Our associates will be trained on those exceptions to help reduce friction for the shopper and make the process as easy as possible for everyone. As we have seen in states and municipalities with mask mandates, virtually everyone either brings a mask or readily complies with the requirement, and we anticipate that to happen in other areas as well."

They continued, "We know some people have differing opinions on this topic. We also recognize the role we can play to help protect the health and well-being of the communities we serve by following the evolving guidance of health officials like the CDC. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our customers and members in wearing face coverings to protect their safety and the safety of our associates."