Major Retailers Requiring Masks In Florida: See The List

FLORIDA — As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations spike throughout the United States, many retailers in Florida and other states are re-implementing mask mandates to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

New mask requirements come as the highly contagious delta variant continues to sweep across the nation. The variant, which originated in India, now accounts for more than 93 percent of all new cases in the United States, according to data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many retailers attribute revised mandates to the CDC’s new mask guidance, which recommends all vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings or when in areas with "substantial" or "high" transmission; however, most stop short of requiring fully vaccinated customers to wear face coverings.

The CDC defines "substantial" transmission as 50 to 99.99 cases per 100,000 people over seven days, while "high" transmission is defined as more than 100 cases per 100,000 during that span.

According to the Florida Department of Health’s most recent COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report for the week of July 30 to Aug. 5, the Sunshine State saw 612.1 cases per 100,000 people during that period.

There were 134,506 coronavirus cases and 616 deaths reported statewide during this week, and the new case positivity rate for Florida was 18.9 percent with some counties seeing positivity rates higher than 30 percent, according to FDOH data.

And the state broke its daily reporting record Friday with 23,903 new cases, the largest number of cases reported in Florida in a single day since the start of the pandemic, according to CDC data.

The state previously broke this record a week ago on July 31 with 21,683 new coronavirus cases and then again Thursday with 22,783 new cases.

Here’s a look at which retailers in Florida now require masks and who should wear them, according to a list compiled by AARP and various news outlets:

ALDI

Who Has To Mask Up: Face coverings are required for unvaccinated customers and employees, and optional for vaccinated customers.

Apple

Who Has To Mask Up: Citing a company memo to employees, Bloomberg reported that Apple reinstituted a mask requirement for shoppers and staff at most of its U.S. retail outlets.

AT&T

Who Has To Mask Up: Employees, customers and visitors are required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.

Bed Bath & Beyond

Who Has To Mask Up: A mask mandate remains in place for shoppers and employees but exempts fully vaccinated customers "in U.S. locations where permitted by local order or law."

BJ’s Wholesale

Who Has To Mask Up: While masks are optional for fully vaccinated customers and employees, unvaccinated persons and all shoppers and staff in BJ’s optical departments are required to wear masks.

Chick-fil-A

Who Has To Mask Up: Face coverings are optional for fully vaccinated employees in area without any local mask mandates. All workers, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, have the option of working outdoors without a mask.

CVS

Who Has To Mask Up: Face coverings are required for employees and customers who are not fully vaccinated, and optional for those who are.

Dunkin’

Who Hast To Mask Up: Fully vaccinated customers and employees aren’t required to wear masks. Those who aren’t fully vaccinated are expected to wear face coverings.

Home Depot

Who Has To Mask Up: The retailer issued a mask requirement for "all associates, contractors and vendors" at its U.S. stores. All customers will be asked to wear masks.

Kohl’s

Who Has To Mask Up: Kohl's requires all employees in counties with a substantial or high risk of transmission to wear masks while in store. The company has also requested that customers in these areas wear masks.

Lowe’s

Who Has To Mask Up: Lowe’s employees are required to wear masks at all locations. Meanwhile, customers are encouraged to also wear masks.

McDonald’s

Who Has To Mask Up: McDonald’s has mandated that all customers and employees wear masks at locations in areas with high or substantial rates of COVID-19 transmission.

Nordstrom

Who Has To Mask Up: The retailer requires face masks where mandated and for those who aren't vaccinated.

Publix

Who Has To Mask Up: All employees are required to wear face coverings. Masks are optional for vaccinated customers.

Starbucks

Who Has To Mask Up: Starbucks “strongly recommends” customers wear facial coverings regardless of vaccination status. Masks are required where mandated by local law or regulation. Starting Aug. 5, all store partners must wear face coverings.

Target

Who Has To Mask Up: Target requires face coverings for all team members and strongly recommends face coverings for all customers in areas with a substantial or high risk of transmission.

TJX Companies

Who Has To Mask Up: The parent company of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Sierra and HomeGoods requires all employees and unvaccinated customers to wear face coverings, which remain optional for fully vaccinated customers.

Verizon

Who Has To Mask Up: The company says masks "may be required" at Verizon locations and that its outlets follow "CDC guidelines and legal requirements.”

Walgreens

Who Has To Mask Up: Employees regardless of vaccination status are required to mask up. Customers and employees who are not vaccinated are asked to continue wearing masks.

Walmart

Who Has To Mask Up: All employees must wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status. Masks are encouraged for fully vaccinated customers and required for those unvaccinated.

Whole Foods

Who Has To Mask Up: Masks are required for unvaccinated customers and employees. Masks are optional for vaccinated customers and employees.

Winn-Dixie

Who Has To Mask Up: Southeastern Grocers, the Jacksonville-based corporation that owns Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Mas and Harveys Supermarket, encourages customers to wear masks in its stores but doesn't mandate it.