Walmart will require customers to wear face coverings at all of its stores, including Sam’s Club locations, beginning Monday. The move makes it the largest retailer to introduce such a policy that has otherwise proven difficult to enforce without state and federal requirements.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based company said that about 65% of its more than 5,000 stores and clubs are located in areas where there is already some form of government mandate on face coverings. That includes Pennsylvania.

Health ambassador positions will be created, with those employees stationed near the entrance to remind customers without masks of its new requirements. These workers, who will wear black polo shirts, will receive special training to “help make the process as smooth as possible for customers,” the company said.

Local reaction

A health ambassador stood outside Walmart in Hempfield on Wednesday, ensuring each customer entering the store wore a face mask. Customers were permitted to enter through the grocery entrance.

Inside, almost all shoppers and employees wore masks.

Cheryl Hough, 52, of Greensburg said she thinks everyone should wear a mask, but she does not like businesses forcing customers to wear one.

“I think it should be your own choice, but I think you should wear it, too,” Hough said.

Frank Salvio, who was shopping with his wife, Patricia, said everyone should wear a mask.

“With all this disease flying around, you’ve got to wear it,” said Salvio, 72, of Greensburg. “Everyday there’s more and more (people) dying.”

Scott Sykes, 65, of Greensburg agreed, adding that if everybody had been wearing a mask the virus might not have spread as much as it has.

“It’s common sense,” he said. “Anybody who doesn’t wear a mask is an idiot.”

Mandating masks

Walmart joins a growing list of retailers that have instituted mask mandates. Best Buy, the nation’s largest consumer electronics retailer, announced Tuesday that it will require customers to wear masks. Starbucks announced last week that customers at its U.S. locations will be required to wear face coverings.

Other major retailers, including Pittsburgh-based teen clothing chain American Eagle Outfitters, Apple and Costco Wholesale Club have mask mandates for customers.

The moves come as new covid-19 cases are spiking in many states. Retailers have been challenged with striking a balance between keeping shoppers safe while making them feel comfortable.

Last week, the Retail Industry Leaders Association publicized a letter it sent to state governors to mandate store customers to wear face coverings. It said the hodgepodge of rules around the country have created confusion for shoppers and that has led to conflict between customers and workers trying to enforce store rules.

Fewer than half of U.S. states require masks in public places, according to the RILA.

Gov. Tom Wolf since June has reminded Pennsylvanians that masks are required when in stores and businesses as part of the yellow and green phases of reopening.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people cover their mouth and nose when around other people to help reduce the spread of the virus that causes covid-19.

“We know some people have differing opinions on this topic,” wrote Dacona Smith, chief operating officer at Walmart U.S. and Lance de la Rosa, chief operating officer at Sam’s Club in a blog posted Wednesday. “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.”

Tribune-Review staff writers Megan Tomasic and Patrick Varine contributed to this Associated Press report.

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