NJ Businesses Change Mask Rules As COVID Cases Surge

NEW JERSEY — Target. Home Depot. Kohl's.

These are just some of the big-box retailers where New Jersey residents will once again be seeing store employees masked up. Many corporate retailers across America have issued new mask mandates in the past week, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends even the vaccinated wear masks in areas of high or substantial transmission — which is most of the nation.

On Tuesday, New Jersey recorded 1,173 new COVID cases and 10 more deaths. More tellingly, the state's seven-day average increased to 977 cases, more than quadruple what it was a month ago, according to NJ.com.

So far, Home Depot and McDonald's are the only two national companies that will be asking customers be masked as well. Walmart is also now requiring their employees be vaccinated.

Gov. Murphy has also not yet re-instated a statewide mask mandate. However, he announced Monday that any healthcare employee or "high-risk congregate setting" worker must be either vaccinated by Sept. 7, or undergo regular testing. This includes anyone who works in a New Jersey hospital or doctor's office, anyone who works in a nursing home, assisted-living facility or rehab center and those who work in prisons.

All of New Jersey's 21 counties except one (Warren County) are now in "high" or "substantial" levels of coronavirus transmission, according to the CDC. That means the CDC wants residents in those counties to wear face masks again in indoor public settings — even if they've been vaccinated.

Wegmans

Requiring all employees wear a mask. Customers are "highly encouraged."

Walmart

Walmart is one of the most aggressive companies in America when it comes to pushing the coronavirus vaccine, announcing Friday they will begin verifying which employees have been vaccinated, "subject to local legal requirements."

Employees will be required to wear a mask in stores; customers are still only "encouraged." Walmart was paying employees $75 to get vaccinated but is now increasing that amount to $150. This includes new employees even if they were vaccinated months ago. And employees who already received the $75 incentive will receive $75 more on their Aug. 19 paychecks. This incentive program will remain in place until Oct. 4, 2021, said the company.

"We will implement a new process for verification of vaccine status for U.S. associates (subject to local legal requirements)," said Walmart in this company-wide statement Friday. "We will follow CDC guidance, which includes fully vaccinated people wearing masks in public indoor settings in counties with substantial or high transmission. This also includes campus offices, and you’ll note the entire state of Arkansas is currently included."

Dunkin'

The brand formerly known as Dunkin' Donuts will be requiring customers to wear face masks beginning in August, according to a statement on its corporate website.

"From the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, our priority has been on the safety of our guests, franchisees, and their restaurant crew. To help bring consistency to Dunkin’ locations across the country, we will now require that all guests wear a face covering while inside our restaurants beginning Wednesday, August 5," the donut franchise wrote in a memo dated July 30.

Kohl's

On May 17, Kohl's said "fully vaccinated customers are welcome to shop with or without a mask." But by Tuesday, the company reversed course, releasing this statement saying "Effective Tuesday, August 3, Kohl's will require our store associates in counties with substantial or high risk of transmission, as identified by the CDC, to wear masks while in store. We also recommend that customers in substantial and high-risk counties wear masks while shopping."

Home Depot

Now requiring masks of all store employees and said they would be "asking" shoppers to do the same.

"As the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the U.S., beginning August 2, we’ll require all associates, contractors and vendors to wear a mask while indoors at all U.S. Home Depot stores, distribution centers, office locations and customers’ homes or businesses, regardless of vaccination status," said the company here. "We’ll ask customers to wear masks while in our stores and continue to offer masks to those who don’t have one."

Target

"Based on the CDC’s updated guidance, we require face coverings for our team members and strongly recommend face coverings for all guests in areas with substantial or high risk of transmission, as defined by the CDC," said Target corporate in this statement this week."

Starbucks

"In alignment with the updated guidance from the CDC, Starbucks strongly recommends customers wear facial coverings while visiting our stores, regardless of vaccination status," said the company in this statement released Tuesday. "Where mandated by local law or regulation, Starbucks will require customers wear masks while in our stores. Additionally, starting August 5 all (employees) are required, regardless of vaccination status, to wear facial coverings while on shift."

McDonald's

McDonald's announced Monday that all staff and customers must wear masks in areas of high or substantial transmission, regardless of vaccination status, FOX Business News reported.

Murphy is requiring anyone who works in the following be vaccinated by Sept. 7:

• Long-term care and assisted-living facilities
• County jails
• Acute-care hospitals and specialty hospitals
• Short-term and post-acute in-patient rehabs
• Licensed behavioral health facilities
• Home health agencies

"High" spread indicates over 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days. "Substantial" means between 50-99.99 cases within the same time period, and "Moderate" means 10-49.99 new cases.

Related: Face Masks Should Be Worn In Nearly All NJ Counties, CDC Says (Aug. 2)

COVID-19 Vaccines, Testing Now Mandatory For NJ Healthcare Staff (Aug. 2)

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