Publix, Starbucks, Trader Joe's: FL Retailers Drop Mask Rules

FLORIDA — Publix customers and employees who have been fully vaccinated no longer have to wear face coverings inside Publix stores. Several other corporations, such as Trader Joe's, have made similar decisions.

In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, individuals who are not fully vaccinated are required to use face coverings while inside Publix, its website said. The CDC said Thursday that people who have been fully vaccinated can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

As of Tuesday, May 18, fully vaccinated Walmart shoppers and employees can shop and work without masks. Another grocery store chain, Trader Joe's, has started allowing fully vaccinated customers to shop without a mask. As of Sunday, May, 16, Trader Joe's in St. Petersburg confirmed to Patch that the corporation still requires all employees to mask up. They said it could possibly soon change for employees, too.

A staff member also said they will have to have faith that all customers not wearing masks inside Trader Joe's stores are fully vaccinated because they have no way of checking for sure.

Publix and Walmart will not ask if customers have been fully vaccinated either. Costco is another store that removed its mass requirements recently for fully vaccinated customers and employees. Starbucks will join these corporations Monday, May 17, as it has recently updated its policies for making masks optional for vaccinated customers, according to USA Today.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order May 3 that ceased all local coronavirus emergency orders in the state, including mask mandates.

Florida theme parks such as Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld no longer require guests to wear masks in outdoor areas, the Sarasota Patch reported.

The Associated Press, Patch Editors Tiffany Razzano and D'Ann Lawrence White contributed to this story.