A Simple Step to Help Keep You Safe: Walmart and Sam’s Club Require Shoppers to Wear Face Coverings
July 15 2020 - 10:15AM
Business Wire
On July 15, 2020 Walmart U.S.
Chief Operating Officer, Dacona Smith, and Sam’s Club Chief
Operating Officer, Lance De La Rosa released the following
blog:
From the beginning of the
COVID-19 pandemic, our focus and priority has been and continues to
be on the health and safety of our associates, members, and
customers.
As the number of confirmed
cases has spiked in communities across the country recently, so too
have the number and types of face covering mandates being
implemented. Currently about 65 percent of our more than 5,000
stores and clubs are located in areas where there is some form of
government mandate on face coverings. To help bring consistency
across stores and clubs, we will require all shoppers to wear a
face covering starting Monday, July 20. This will give us time to
inform customers and members of the changes, post signage and train
associates on the new protocols.
While we’re certainly not the
first business to require face coverings, we know this is a simple
step everyone can take for their safety and the safety of others in
our facilities. According to the CDC, face coverings help decrease
the spread of COVID-19 and because the virus can be spread by
people who don’t have symptoms and don’t know they are infected,
it’s critically important for everyone to wear a face covering in
public and social distance.
In addition to posting clear
signage at the front of our stores, Walmart has created the role of
Health Ambassador and will station them near the entrance to remind
those without a mask of our new requirements. Our ambassadors will
receive special training to help make the process as smooth as
possible for customers. The ambassadors, identifiable by their
black polo shirt, will work with customers who show up at a store
without a face covering to try and find a solution. We are
currently considering different solutions for customers when this
requirement takes effect on July 20.
To help ensure consistency
with this new process, all stores will have a single
entrance.
At Sam’s Clubs, associates at
the entrance will follow the same process with members, politely
reminding them of our requirement to wear a face covering when
shopping with us. Complimentary masks will be provided if the
member doesn’t have one. Or members can purchase masks in the
club.
We know it may not be possible
for everyone to wear a face covering. Our associates will be
trained on those exceptions to help reduce friction for the shopper
and make the process as easy as possible for everyone.
As we have seen in states and
municipalities with mask mandates, virtually everyone either brings
a mask or readily complies with the requirement and we anticipate
that to happen in other areas as well.
We know some people have
differing opinions on this topic. We also recognize the role we can
play to help protect the health and well-being of the communities
we serve by following the evolving guidance of health officials
like the CDC. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of
our customers and members in wearing face coverings to protect
their safety and the safety of our associates.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200715005560/en/
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