New Mask Policy For Target Stores, Including Colorado Locations

ACROSS COLORADO — Target will again require employees to wear face masks, the retail giant announced Monday. The new policy will go into effect Tuesday.

Customers at stores will not be required to wear masks. However, Target will "strongly recommend" masks for all customers — regardless of vaccination status — in areas with a "substantial" or "high risk" of transmission, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control. As of Monday, Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe counties were all listed as "substantial."

Target will continue to recommend that customers who aren't fully vaccinated wear a mask.

Since May, Target has not required customers and employees who are fully vaccinated to wear masks in stores unless it's required through local regulations.

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Monday's announcement comes as the highly-infectious delta variant of the coronavirus is causing a surge in new cases and hospitalizations across the United States.

"We'll follow all local mandates, as we have throughout the pandemic, and continue to monitor guidance from the CDC closely," Target said in a news release.

"We will also maintain all of our health and safety protocols that include increased cleaning measures and social distancing. We encourage our team members and guests to get the COVID-19 vaccine by offering vaccine appointments at nearly all CVS at Target locations and providing paid time and free Lyft rides to team members when they get their vaccines."

King Soopers and Walmart are also recommending that all customers wear masks in their stores.

Patch Editor William Bornhoft contributed to this report.