REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
- The CDC relaxed its guidelines for wearing masks indoors and outdoors for fully vaccinated people.
- Some companies, including Target and Kroger, have said workers and customers still need to wear masks.
- But Walmart, Costco, and others have dropped their mask mandates. States can still set their own rules.
- See more stories on Insider’s business page.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday relaxed mask guidance for fully vaccinated people – but many retailers and restaurants aren’t ready to welcome maskless customers.
Macy’s and Target are among those saying they’ll still make masks mandatory for shoppers and workers in their stores. Walmart, Costco, and others have dropped their mask requirement – although individual states can still mandate masks in stores.
Here’s where fully vaccinated people will and will not have to wear a mask now that the guidance has changed.
AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
A Target spokesperson told Insider that it was reviewing its policies and the new CDC guidance. But for now, the chain said, it will continue upholding all its coronavirus safety measures in stores, including wearing masks and social distancing.
Kroger
AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
The grocery chain Kroger said it would keep masks mandates for its customers and workers at its nearly 3,000 stores.
“As we have throughout the pandemic, we are reviewing current safety practices, the CDC’s latest guidance, and soliciting feedback from associates to guide the next phase of our policy,” a Kroger spokesperson told Insider.
Starbucks
REUTERS/Mark Makela
Wearing a mask will be optional for fully vaccinated customers beginning Monday, May 17, the company said in a statement.
Masks will remain optional “unless local regulations require them by law,” the statement said.
Macy’s
REUTERS/Mike Segar
The department-store chain Macy’s confirmed to Insider that it would keep masks mandatory in its stores.
Walmart
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Vaccinated Walmart customers are now allowed to shop without a mask, according to a memo sent to US store associates on Friday. Fully vaccinated Walmart workers also won’t be required to mask up in-store beginning May 18.
However, the company is still reviewing mask mandates for “certain job codes for health and sanitation purposes,” and will still adhere to mask requirements depending on city and state protocols, according to the note.
Bed Bath and Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond
A spokesperson for Bed Bath and Beyond told Insider that it was reviewing its policies, but that its mask policy currently remains unchanged.
They added that the company would continue to align its COVID-19 protocol with local, state, and government health and safety guidelines to create a safe environment for both staff and customers.
Home Depot
Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images
Home Depot has not updated its mask policy, a spokesperson told Insider.
Walgreens
Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
A Walgreens spokesperson told USA Today that masks will still be mandatory in its stores as these are COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites.
Walgreens did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
CVS
Noam Galai/Getty Images
CVS said it was reviewing its mask policy.
“The safety of our employees and customers will continue to guide our decision-making process,” the company said in a statement to Insider.
Gap
Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
According to The Times, Gap has said it’s reviewing its policies and has not confirmed whether masks will continue to be mandatory.
A spokesperson for the apparel giant did not respond to Insider’s requests for comment.
Publix
Johnny Louis/Getty Images
Florida-based supermarket chain Publix is no longer requiring masks for fully vaccinated shoppers.
Dollar General
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
When asked about updated mask policies, a Dollar General spokesperson directed Insider to its website. The US chain’s COVID-19 protocols were last updated on March 10 and include a mask mandate.
Ulta
Don & Melinda Crawford/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Ulta is “assessing the implications” of the new CDC guidelines, a spokesperson told Insider. The beauty giant said it would continue to enforce mask and social-distancing protocols “until our assessment is complete and we are able to share more.”
Carl’s Jr
Carl’s Jr is still requiring face masks but is now reviewing its mask policy, a Carl’s Jr spokesperson told Insider.
Costco
Anna Simpson
Costco announced on Friday that customers can now shop without a mask in stores that are located in states without a mask mandate. The retailer will not require proof of vaccination.
However, as per CDC guidelines, face masks will still be required in Costco’s healthcare sections, including its pharmacy, optical, and hearing aid divisions.
Trader Joe’s
Nati Harnik/AP
Trader Joe’s is also dropping its mask mandate for fully vaccinated customers, and will not require proof of the vaccine, a spokesperson told Insider.
Lidl
AP
A spokesperson for Lidl told Insider that it was updating its policies to align with the new CDC guidance.
“Wherever legally permissible, fully vaccinated customers will be allowed into our stores without masks,” they said.
Ikea
An Ikea spokesperson told Insider that its mask and social-distancing protocols would stay in place “for the time being” for both staff and customers because “changing our mask policy for requires careful consideration and planning.”
JCPenney
Reuters
Department store chain JCPenney told Insider that masks and social distancing will still be required in its stores as it continues to monitor the situation.
Apple
JB Lacroix/Getty Images
Apple is also keeping masks mandatory in stores for the time being, according to a Bloomberg report.
Insider reached out to Apple for further comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
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