Walmart will no longer require customers to wear masks

Walmart will no longer require customers and employees to wear face masks inside of its stores if they are fully vaccinated.

The retail giant sent a memo to employees Friday, announcing the customers can shop without a mask effectively immediately and associates will not need to wear a mask to work starting Tuesday.

Walmart did not specify how it will verify that a customer or associate is fully vaccinated, but said it will “continue to request that non-vaccinated customers and members wear face coverings in our stores and clubs. We will update the signage in our facilities to reflect this.” 

The memo did specify that “fully vaccinated” means two weeks following the second Pfizer or Moderna dose or two weeks following the single Johnson & Johnson dose.

The move comes a day after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new guidance that fully vaccinated Americans can go without masks in most settings, including indoors.

The company also noted in the memo that it will review and update guidance about mask mandates for “certain job codes for health and sanitation purposes” depending on local requirements.

“Masks will also continue to be required by some city and state ordinances, and we will follow those requirements. There may also be local conditions, regulatory changes or laws that affect our guidance. We will be communicating with your local store, club or facility management team as regulations change so they can keep you informed,” the memo read.

Walmart added that employees would receive $75 as a “thank you” if they got vaccinated. Employees need to show proof they have been vaccinated starting on Tuesday and $75 will be added to their paycheck.

Grocery store chain Trader Joe’s also announced Friday it will no longer require customers to wear face masks inside of its stores but that it will still require staff to wear masks.