Major Retailers Requiring Masks In Smyrna, Vinings: See The List

SMYRNA, GA — As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations spike throughout the United States, many retailers in Smyrna, Vinings and other cities are re-implementing mask mandates to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

New mask requirements come as the highly contagious delta variant continues to sweep across the nation. The variant, which originated in India, now accounts for more than 93 percent of all new cases in the United States, according to data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many retailers attribute revised mandates to the CDC’s new mask guidance, which recommends all vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings or when in areas with "substantial" or "high" transmission; however, most stop short of requiring fully vaccinated customers to wear face coverings.

The CDC defines "substantial" transmission as 50 to 99.99 cases per 100,000 people over seven days, while "high" transmission is defined as more than 100 cases per 100,000 during that span.

Here’s a look at which retailers in and near Smyrna and Vinings now require masks and who should wear them, according to a list compiled by AARP and various news outlets:

ALDI, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: Face coverings are required for unvaccinated customers and employees, and optional for vaccinated customers.

Apple, 2860 Cumberland Mall, Suite 1153
Who Has To Mask Up: Citing a company memo to employees, Bloomberg reported that Apple reinstituted a mask requirement for shoppers and staff at most of its U.S. retail outlets.

AT&T, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: Employees, customers and visitors are required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.

Bed Bath & Beyond, 2955 Cobb Parkway, Suite 100
Who Has To Mask Up: A mask mandate remains in place for shoppers and employees but exempts fully vaccinated customers "in U.S. locations where permitted by local order or law."

CVS, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: Face coverings are required for employees and customers who are not fully vaccinated, and optional for those who are.

Home Depot, 2450 Cumberland Parkway
Who Has To Mask Up: The retailer issued a mask requirement for "all associates, contractors and vendors" at its U.S. stores. All customers will be asked to wear masks.

Kohl’s, 1289 Johnson Ferry Road; 1825 East-West Connector
Who Has To Mask Up: Kohl's requires all employees in counties with a substantial or high risk of transmission to wear masks while in store. The company has also requested that customers in these areas wear masks.

Kroger, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: Masks are “strongly encouraged” for fully vaccinated customers and employees. Masks are required for unvaccinated customers and employees working in in-store clinics and pharmacies.

Lowe’s, 1717 East-West Connector
Who Has To Mask Up: Lowe’s employees are required to wear masks at all locations. Meanwhile, customers are encouraged to also wear masks.

McDonald’s, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: McDonald’s has mandated that all customers and employees wear masks at locations in areas with high or substantial rates of COVID-19 transmission.

Publix, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: All employees are required to wear face coverings. Masks are optional for vaccinated customers.

Starbucks, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: Starbucks “strongly recommends” customers wear facial coverings regardless of vaccination status. Masks are required where mandated by local law or regulation. Starting Aug. 5, all store partners must wear face coverings.

Target, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: Target requires face coverings for all team members and strongly recommends face coverings for all customers in areas with a substantial or high risk of transmission.

TJX Companies
Who Has To Mask Up: The parent company of T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, Sierra and HomeGoods requires all employees and unvaccinated customers to wear face coverings, which remain optional for fully vaccinated customers.

Verizon, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: The company says masks "may be required" at Verizon locations and that its outlets follow "CDC guidelines and legal requirements.”

Walgreens, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: Employees regardless of vaccination status are required to mask up. Customers and employees who are not vaccinated are asked to continue wearing masks.

Walmart, Find your closest location
Who Has To Mask Up: All employees must wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status. Masks are encouraged for fully vaccinated customers and required for those unvaccinated.