Target, CVS, Other Major Chains Drop Mask Mandate For Vaccinated

LONG ISLAND, NY — With Gov. Andrew Cuomo announcing Monday that New York will follow the new federal guidance lifting mask mandates for the vaccinated in most places — major retailers in New York and nationwide are dropping the mask and social distancing rules in stores.

And, with Cuomo adding that the choice remained up to the individual business, others are still weighing the decision.

- Target announced Monday that it will no longer require customers and employees who are fully vaccinated to wear face coverings in stores unless it's required through local regulations.

The Minneapolis-based company is joining a growing number of U.S. retailers that are dropping mask requirements. The policy change follows new guidance released this past week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Target will continue to "strongly recommend" masks for customers and employees who are not fully vaccinated. The retail giant says it will still enforce social distancing and "increased cleaning" at the stores will continue.

COVID-19 vaccine appointments are still available at most of the CVS stores located inside Target stores, according to the company. Target is offering free Lyft rides for employees to get to their vaccine appointment.

CVS Pharmacy also announced that consistent with CDC guidance, effective Monday, customers who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear face coverings inside its stores, unless it is mandated by state or local regulations. Customers who are not fully vaccinated are asked to continue wearing face coverings, and employees are required to do so while at work. "Health, safety and science will continue to drive our decision-making process," CVS said.

- Other stores that are now dropping the mask and social distancing requirements include Starbucks, which said facial coverings are now optional in its stores for fully vaccinated customers, following CDC guidance, except where local regulations require it by law.

- Walmart said based on the latest CDC guidance, fully vaccinated associates will not need to wear a mask at work starting Tuesday. Unvaccinated associates must still wear face coverings, per CDC guidance. Vaccinated customers and members are welcome to shop without a mask, but non-vaccinated customers and members are asked to wear face coverings. Masks will also continue to be required by some city and state ordinances, and Walmart said it will follow those requirements.

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 confirmed to Patch that the corporation still requires all employees to mask up. They said it could possibly soon change for employees, too.

Home Depot, meanwhile, has not updated its mask guidance since last week, when they remained required for all patrons regardless of vaccination status. And, according to Business Insider, some stores such as Macy's and Kroger, have said they will still make masks mandatory for customers and employees in their stores.

The CDC said Thursday that fully vaccinated people could forgo face coverings and social distancing in most places, both inside and outside, regardless of crowd size. Initially. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York State was still reviewing the decision, but on Monday, he said the state would adopt the CDC's guidelines.

According to the CDC, people still need to wear face coverings on airplanes, buses, trains and other public transportation, as well as in hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

According to the new CDC guidance, fully vaccinated people also can:

• Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
• Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States.
• Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings.
• Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic.
• Refrain from routine screening testing if feasible.

For now, the CDC added, fully vaccinated people should continue to:

• Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
• Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations.

Cuomo said those who are immunocompromised or not yet vaccinated should wear masks and social distance.

The news coincides with a major statewide reopening in New York which takes place Wednesday. Most capacity restrictions will be lifted in restaurants, museums, retail establishments, and offices. The outdoor food and beverage curfew is lifted as of Monday; the indoor food and beverage curfew will be lifted May 31. In addition, Cuomo said, the outdoor gathering limit has increased to 500, and the indoor gathering limit, increased to 250, with indoor residential gathering limits upped to 50.