Major Retailers Requiring Masks In Maryland: See The List

MARYLAND — As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations tick up throughout the United States, some retailers in Maryland 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.

Several jurisdictions in Maryland are now requiring face coverings as the delta variant spreads:

• Montgomery County ordered all people over age 2 to wear face coverings indoors as of Saturday, Aug. 7.
• Prince George's County is requiring masks of all people over age 5 indoors as of 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8.
• Baltimore City will require everyone to wear masks inside effective at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9.

The District of Columbia ordered people age 5 and up to wear face coverings as of July 29 as well.

Many retailers attribute their 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.

Here’s a look at which retailers in Maryland 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 they are optional for vaccinated customers.

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

Apple
Who Has To Mask Up: All Maryland stores — Annapolis, Bethesda, Columbia and Towson — are requiring customers to wear masks as well as employees. People who do not bring their own will be provided with face coverings.

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.

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."

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.

Giant Food
Who Has To Mask Up: In Baltimore, customers and employees must wear masks at all times. Elsewhere, fully vaccinated customers and employees do not have to wear face coverings, according to Giant. Many stores also offer the COVID-19 vaccine and antibody testing.

Home Depot
Who Has To Mask Up: The retailer issued a mask requirement for "all associates, contractors and vendors" at its U.S. stores as of Aug. 2. All customers will be asked to wear masks regardless of vaccination status and will be provided with masks if they do not have them.

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 asked that customers in these areas wear masks.

Kroger
Who Has To Mask Up: Masks are “strongly encouraged” for fully vaccinated customers and employees by Kroger, which owns Harris Teeter. Masks are required for unvaccinated customers and employees working at in-store clinics and pharmacies.

Lidl
Who Has To Mask Up: Employees are required to wear masks, as of July 31.

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.

Macy's
Who Has To Mask Up: Macy's states that "facial coverings are recommended but not required" for customers who are vaccinated, unless state or local mandates call for masks.

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

Safeway
Who Has To Mask Up: Safeway recommends masks for people until they are fully vaccinated. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson shot. The grocery chain is offering the COVID-19 vaccine at its more than 50 locations with pharmacies in Maryland.

ShopRite
Who Has To Mask Up: The retailer requires face masks where mandated and for employees who aren't vaccinated. Given the delta variant and new CDC guidance, it is recommending employees in areas of high transmission mask up regardless of vaccination status.

Sprouts
Who Has To Mask Up: Sprouts strongly encourages non-vaccinated people over age 2 without disabilities or underlying medical conditions to wear face coverings inside stores. It will provide masks to those who do not have them.

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 wear 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.

See Also:

• Baltimore Orders Masks Indoors As Coronavirus Infections Surge
• Mask Mandate Returns Indoors In MOCO: Council Votes Yes
• Masks Required Again In Prince George's; Delta Variant Spreads
• DC Requires Masks Indoors For Everyone Older Than 2
• 'We're Not Talking About Reinstating A Mask Mandate': Gov. Larry Hogan

— By Megan VerHelst and Elizabeth Janney