Lidl Announces New 'No Exception' Facial Covering Policy

LONG ISLAND, NY — The German grocery store chain, Lidl, announced on Wednesday that it was strengthening its mask-wearing policy in its stores.

In a letter, CEO Johannes Fieber released new measures for all Lidl supermarkets amid the one-year anniversary of the first coronavirus case reported in the United States.

Among those changes includes a "no exceptions" facial cover policy for all customers in the store.

"Starting next week, protective face coverings will be required for all customers over the age of 2, without exception," Fieber wrote. "Customers who have personal or medical reasons preventing them from wearing a mask will be allowed to wear a protective face shield in its place while in the store."

In addition to the updated mask policy, the company will also install new hospital-grade air filtration systems in stores to help filter out COVID-19. Lidl is the only national grocer to have installed the CDC-recommended system in stores.

The chain also plans to increase airflow in stores, close over 100 stores for professional cleaning upon learning of a confirmed positive coronavirus case and introduce enhanced cleaning and sanitization routine.

"We remain vigilant as new variants emerge, and all of our protective measures will remain in place until the CDC and public health authorities indicate it's safe to take them away," Fieber stated.

There are currently ten Lidl stores in Lake Grove, West Babylon, East Meadow, Plainview, Huntington Station, East Northport, Center Moriches, East Patchogue, Massapequa, and Oakdale. The company announced recently that it was turning two more Best Markets in Riverhead and Shirley into new Lidl.