A lot has been up for debate during this long pandemic. But there’s one thing that’s rapidly becoming a sure thing, face masks are required.
Some of the nation’s largest retailers, like Walmart, are starting to require consumers to wear a mask before entering in their stores, even if there’s not a local state or county mask mandate in place. The long line of virtual fists being put down continues as one by one new companies are starting to follow suit.
One of the latest household names to enforce wearing a face mask is the chain of grocery stores ALDI.
ALDI stated that its employees already have been consistently wearing face masks for months and will continue in this practice, and now, the store will require customers to do the same.
At all ALDI stores across the country, a face covering is mandatory for shoppers before entering into their stores. This rule will be enforced at every ALDI store, regardless of if there’s a local mask order in place by the government.
A statement issued on the company’s website reads, “We continue to monitor safety protocols from the CDC as well as state and local health officials. Most recently, the CDC stated that cloth face coverings are a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19 and could reduce the spread of the virus.”
For customers who are unable to wear a mask for one reason or another, the store encourages the use of grocery delivery or curbside services.
“We encourage any customer that is unable or unwilling to wear a face covering, to visit shop.aldi.us for grocery delivery – and even Curbside Grocery Pickup in many locations,” the statement continued.
This mandate applies a similarity in structure to all retail stores is ultimately due to the lack of consistent authority being enforced by cities and states.
Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union stated, “Across the country, every governor and mayor must step up and make masks mandatory… Without universal mask mandates that are fully enforced nationwide, hundreds of thousands of Americans will continue to get sick and die. We cannot wait any longer.”
ALDI’s new policy enforcing face masks will begin on Monday, July 27.
