Masks Required At IL Walmart, Best Buy, Kohl's Stores

ILLINOIS — Walmart and Kohl's joined a growing list of retailers this week when the companies announced it will soon require shoppers to wear masks. The requirement applies to Walmart's 5,000-plus U.S. stores and includes Sam's Club locations.

The mask requirements at Walmart and Kohl's go into effect Monday, the companies said.

Walmart and Sam's Club have 185 stores in Illinois, including 139 Walmart Supercenters and 25 Sam's Club locations.

Walmart joins a growing list of retailers issuing blanket policies requiring mask use by customers. On Tuesday, Best Buy announced it would start requiring masks in all stores, effective Wednesday. There are 44 Best Buy stores in Illinois and 64 Kohl's locations.

A similar mandate went into effect at Starbucks on Wednesday, and Costco has required masks since May.

While details of the new policy are still being ironed out for Walmart stores, according to The New York Times, the company said Sam's Club will provide complimentary masks to customers who don't have one.

In its statement, Walmart said that 65 percent of its stores currently are in areas where there is already some form of government mandate to wear masks.

In addition to posting signage at the front of stores, Walmart has created a new role of "health ambassador," who will be stationed near the entrance to remind those without a mask of the new requirements.