JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two retail chains, Walmart and Costco, will begin enforcing new protocols to keep shoppers and employees safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Saturday, Walmart began counting customers entering and exiting its stores. The retailer said the measure will help employees to keep capacity at no more than 20 percent.
In an effort to slow the holiday rush, Walmart will run its Black Friday deals both in store and online for three weeks.
Beginning Monday, all Costco shoppers and employees will be required to wear a mask or face shield.
Children under the age of two are now the only ones exempt from wearing a face covering under the updated policy. The wholesale retailer will no longer make an exemption for people who say they cannot wear a face covering because of a medical condition.
“This updated policy may seem inconvenient to some, however we believe the added safety is worth any inconvenience,” said Costco president and CEO Craig Jelinek.
Costco’s original policy went into effect in May and did not require shoppers and employees with medical conditions to wear masks.
