Walmart, Target, and Starbucks are keeping mask mandates despite the CDC relaxing guidance for vaccinated people. Here's how stores are responding to the new guidelines.
Mary Hanbury,Grace Dean
- The CDC has relaxed guidelines for wearing masks indoors and outdoors for fully-vaccinated people.
- Certain states have now lifted mask mandates, but some companies say workers and customers still need to wear masks.
- Target, Walmart, and Starbucks are among those still mandating masks in their stores.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday relaxed guidance for mask-wearing in indoor and outdoor spaces for fully vaccinated people - but many retailers and restaurants aren't ready to welcome maskless customers.
Walmart, Target, and Starbucks are among those who are still making masks mandatory for shoppers and workers in their stores, they said Thursday. Other retailers are still on the fence.
Find out where you will and will not have to wear a mask, if you've been fully vaccinated, now the rules have changed:
Target
Target said in a statement shared with Fox Business that it was upholding all of its coronavirus safety measures in stores. As a result, customers and workers will be required to wear masks and stay socially distanced.
A spokesperson for Target was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Insider.
Kroger
Grocery chain Kroger is also keeping masks mandates for all of its customers and workers at its nearly 3,000 stores, CNN reported.
A spokesperson for Kroger was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Insider.
Walmart
Walmart is sticking to its mask policy in stores for the time being.
"We serve millions of Americans every week and believe our policy of requiring associates and customers to wear masks in our stores has helped protect them during the pandemic, and we're not lifting those measures at this time," the company said in a statement shared with The Columbus Dispatch.
A spokesperson for Walmart was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Insider.
Starbucks
Starbucks shoppers and workers will still be required to wear masks in its stores, the company said, according to CNN.
Home Depot
Home Depot told The New York Times that it had no plans to change its mask policy in stores. Insider reached out for further comment, but didn't immediately hear back.
Macy's
Macy's has not yet confirmed whether masks will still be mandatory in its stores. A spokesperson told CNN that it is currently reviewing its policies.
Macy's was not immediately available to comment when contacted by Insider.
Walgreens
Walgreens has not yet confirmed how it will react to the CDC's new guidelines, but a spokesperson told CNN that it is reviewing its rules.
Walgreens was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Insider.
CVS
CVS told CNN that 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.
CVS was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Insider.
Gap
According to The Times, Gap Inc is reviewing its policies, and has not confirmed whether masks will continue to be mandatory.
A spokesperson for the apparel giant was not immediately available to comment when contacted by Insider.
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