Retail mega-chain Walmart has announced that as of today, shoppers who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear face masks inside their stores. Based on the latest CDC guidance, fully vaccinated associates will not need to wear a mask at work starting Tuesday, May 18.
The company also hopes to have all of its employees fully vaccinated by the Fourth of July by offering associates a $75 bonus for vaccinating.
“We’re encouraging all associates to get vaccinated and help end this pandemic. Do it for your health, your family, your friends, your community and your country – let’s help reach our national vaccination goals by the Fourth of July,” the company said.
According to the CDC, it is safe for fully vaccinated people to stop wearing masks in most indoor and outdoor settings. “Fully vaccinated” means it has been two weeks since a person received the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or the single dose of Johnson & Johnson.
“This applies to all facilities, including our stores, clubs, distribution centers, fulfillment centers and offices,” Walmart said. “We’ll share more information next week with campus office associates. Unvaccinated associates must still wear face coverings, per CDC guidance. We are also reviewing whether masks may still be required for certain job codes for health and sanitation purposes and will share additional guidance soon. Some associates may choose to continue to wear masks, and as part of our value of respect for the individual we should all support their right to do so.”