Walmart announced that all of its stores and Sam’s Club stores will require customers to wear face coverings starting July 20.

While the use of masks has been mandated in California, the new store policy will apply to Walmart stores nationwide. As of now, 65 percent of its stores are in areas where masks are mandated.

“As the number of confirmed cases has spiked in communities across the country recently, so too have the number and types of face covering mandates being implemented,” the company said in a statement. “To help bring consistency across stores and clubs, we will require all shoppers to wear a face covering starting Monday, July 20. “

Walmart said it is using the rest of this week to properly inform the public of its mask requirement, post signs about it and train its employees on the protocols, until the rule is formally put in play next Monday. 

Walmart joins Costco in company-issued face mask mandates, while stores such as Whole Foods, Ralphs and Albertsons comply with regional mandates.

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