Walmart To Customers: No Mask-No Entry Nationwide

Walmart will require customers at all of its US stores to wear masks beginning next week, becoming the largest retailer to mandate facial coverings as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. These rules will be implemented without exception, with extra security in place at certain locations who will help enforce the policy.

In a press release July 15 Walmart said:

"To help bring consistency across stores and clubs, we will require all shoppers to wear a face covering starting Monday, July 20," Walmart US chief operating officer Dacona Smith and Sam's Club chief operating officer Lance De La Rosa said in a blog post Wednesday. "This will give us time to inform customers and members of the changes, post signage and train associates on the new protocols."

Starbucks said last week that it will require customers to wear facial coverings or masks in all 9,000 of its company-owned U.S. stores beginning Wednesday July 15.  Best Buy will also require all shoppers to wear face protection before entering all of their locations.

Locally in Amarillo many  restaurants and other businesses have posted signs that say face masks are required to enter, however making them mandatory has been something that has fallen short. Texas Roadhouse and Bubba's 33 have signs that say mandatory face coverings are required to enter their buildings.

Last week, the Retail Leaders Industry Association, an industry trade group, called on the nation's governors to pass statewide mandates requiring citizens to wear masks in public. The United Food and Commercial Workers' Union also urged government officials and business leaders to require masks for customers in an advertisement over the weekend.