Shoppers at Walmart and Sam’s Club will be required to wear face coverings beginning July 20. (Walmart)

BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 15, 2020—Walmart and Sam’s Club will begin requiring customers to wear face coverings Monday according to a news release by the company.

The move is to standardize requirements across the company’s stores and clubs.

According to the release, about 65 percent of Walmart’s 5,000-plus stores and clubs are located in areas where some form of face covering is mandated by local government.

“While we’re certainly not the first business to require face coverings, we know this is a simple step everyone can take for their safety and the safety of others in our facilities, said Dacona Smith, chief operating officer, Walmart U.S., and Lance de la Rosa, chief operating officer, Sam’s Club in the release.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, face coverings help decrease the spread of COVID-19. The virus can be spread by people who don’t have symptoms and don’t know they are infected.

In addition to posting clear signage at the front of the stores, Walmart created “health ambassadors” wearing black polo shirts who will be stationed near the store entrance to remind those without a mask of the new requirements.

To help ensure consistency with this new process, all stores will have a single entrance.

At Sam’s Clubs, associates at the entrance will follow the same process with members, reminding them of the requirement to wear a face covering when shopping there. Additionally, complimentary masks will be provided if members don’t have one, according to the release.

“We know it may not be possible for everyone to wear a face covering,” said Smith and de al Rosa in the release. “Our associates will be trained on those exceptions to help reduce friction for the shopper and make the process as easy as possible for everyone.

“We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our customers and members in wearing face coverings to protect their safety and the safety of our associates,” they said.

Walmart, Sam’s Club news release