After revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), some major retailers such as Target (NYSE: TGT) and Home Depot (NYSE: HD) no longer require masks where state and local guidance no longer call for such.
"Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance," the CDC said in its new guidance released on Sunday.
Target has since announced that it will no longer require masks for fully vaccinated customers and employees, except where required. Costco (NASDAQ: COST) follows similar guidance but requires masks in medical-related sections of its stores. At the same time, Walmart (NYSE: WMT) has offered a $75 bonus to employees who become fully vaccinated alongside similar guidance.
Other companies, such as Walgreens (NASDAQ: WBA) and Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD), still require masks.
"As a destination for Covid vaccine and testing, we have decided to keep our current face covering policy in place for the time being. The safety of our team members and customers is our top priority and will continue to guide our decision process," Walgreens said.
Masks have been a particularly heated and profoundly politicized issue. Many conservatives--including many prominent GOP politicians, including former President Donald Trump--take umbrage with state and local-level mask mandates. The deep divide is reflected in consumers' reactions to recent mask-mandate rollbacks, which is drawing mixed reactions across the country. While some consumers are happy for a return to pre-pandemic normalcy, others believe that the CDC's guidance has come far too early. A particular concern among critics of the decision is the lack of vaccination verification, as most retailers won't require proof of vaccination if they require masks for unvaccinated individuals.