Ketchikan Walmart Requires Face Masks Starting July 20th; Safeway Requires Face Masks Starting July 21stBy MARY KAUFFMAN
July 18, 2020
The move comes two days after Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said a mask mandate in stores nationwide was "obviously something that's on our minds."
A blog posted Wednesday by By Dacona Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Walmart U.S., and Lance de la Rosa, Chief Operating Officer, Sam’s Club said, "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." Quoting the blog, "While we’re certainly not the first business [Walmart] 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."
To help ensure consistency with this new process, all Walmart stores will continue to have a single entrance. In addition to posting clear signage at the front of Walmart, Walmart has created the role of Health Ambassador and will station them near the entrance to remind those without a mask of Walmart's new requirements. Walmart's ambassadors will receive special training to help make the process as smooth as possible customers. The ambassadors, identifiable by their black polo shirts, will work with customers who show up at a store without a face covering to try and find a solution. Walmart is currently considering different solutions for customers when this requirement takes effect on Monday, July 20. Locally, customers will continue to have the opinion to purchase online for store pickup and take out to vehicles is available.
"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," stated Smith and de la Rosa for Walmart. Also on Wednesday, the National Retail Federation called on retailers to set nationwide mask policies and said "retailers of all sizes have been on the front lines serving customers and supporting their communities. Albertsons said in a statement on Thursday. “Effective July 21, 2020, we will require customers across all of our locations to wear face coverings when shopping with us, for their protection and for that of our associates. We appreciate everyone’s diligence, cooperation and support as we all work together to get through these difficult times as safely as possible.” This announcement applies to all Carrs Safeway stores in Alaska owned by Albertsons. There is one Carrs Safeway store in Ketchikan. Options will still be available for delivery and/or curb side pickup at Ketchikan stores A&P (Alaska & Proud) and Carrs Safeway. Face mask rquirements are not new in Ketchikan. Businesses including pharmacies, clinics, as well as veterinary clinics have had face masks requirements in place for months.
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