April 20, ,2020

Walmart and Sam's Club now require all employees to wear face masks

Walmart, the world's largest brick-and-mortar retailer, will require all employees to wear face masks starting today. The retail giant will also encourage shoppers to do so as well as a way to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Walmart made the announcement in a letter to its employees that was posted on the retailer's website.

"On Monday, we will begin requiring associates to wear masks or other face coverings at work," the letter read. "This includes our stores, clubs, distribution and fulfillment centers, as well as in our corporate offices."

Employees of Sam's Club, the membership warehouse that is owned by Walmart, will also have to wear masks.

The letter, which was written by Walmart President and CEO John Furner, as well as Sam's Club President and CEO Kath McLay, said the change in policy was congruent to the revision in health advisories regarding face masks and coronavirus protection.

"We have evolved our policy on face coverings from optional to mandatory as public health guidance has shifted," the CEOs said in the letter. "The CDC now recommends wearing face coverings in public settings, including grocery stores, to help curb the spread of the virus."

"Although most state and local governments do not mandate the use of face coverings in public settings, the CDC has reported that recent studies show a significant portion of individuals with the virus lack symptoms and can transmit the virus," the letter said. "With this knowledge, we believe it is simply in everyone's best interest to use masks or face coverings to curb the spread of this disease."

Employees are permitted to use their own masks at work as long as they are up to standards; otherwise, Walmart and Sam's Club will provide them with PPE.

Shoppers also are being encouraged to wear face masks as part of the retailers' response to COVID-19.

Costco and Walmart had previously announced that it would limit the number of customers who could be in the store at one time.

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April 17, 2020

New rules regarding wearing face masks go into effect in San Antonio and Dallas. Houston next?

Effective this weekend, Dallas County will become the latest county to require residents to wear some sort of cloth face covering when visiting essential businesses, like grocery stores or banks. The city of San Antonio, and counties of Travis, Bastrop, and Hidalgo have similar orders in place.

If you're over the age of 10 and are in a public space, you are now required to wear a face mask. Scarves, bandannas or handkerchiefs will do. Save the N-95 for our healthcare workers.

Failure to follow the rules could result in a $1,000 fine, or maybe even jail time.

Parents and guardians are responsible for making sure children ages 2 to 10 are properly masked.

City of Dallas officials stresses that wearing a cloth mask is not a substitute for social distancing and that those guidelines must continue to be followed to prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus.

Laredo announced a month ago that every resident older than 5 years old must wear some sort of mask when going out in public. That includes when going to the store or even pumping gas. Those who don't could also be fined $1,000.

Then Willacy County, which covers a portion of South Padre Island, said violators may face a $1,000 fine if they're caught not wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic.