H-E-B Stores To Continue Mask Policy After Texas Lifts Order

AUSTIN, TX — H-E-B Stores will continue its mask enforcement policy once Texas' mask mandate ends this week, officials said.

The Texas-based grocery store chain announced Friday all shoppers and employees are expected to continue to wear masks at its stores once Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order to reopen businesses at 100 percent capacity and his mask mandate is lifted on Wednesday.

"While statewide policy has changed, our store protocol has not," the grocery chain said. "We will continue to expect shoppers to wear masks while in our stores ...and we will still require all our Partners (employees) and vendors to wear masks while at work."

The retailer said the ending of mask ordinances puts "real pressure on retailers" to enforce mask wearing for its customers; however, it will continue its policy until "all Texans including our Partners have access to the COVID-19 vaccine."

"We ask for kindness and understanding from our customers in our expectation of them to wear masks in our stores," H-E-B said. "We request all customers adhere to the COVID-19 protocols we have in place while shopping."

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