Target Unveils New Mask Requirement For WA Stores

SEATTLE — Target will again require employees to wear face masks, the Minneapolis-based 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.

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.

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. On Saturday, Florida reported its highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day since the pandemic started, according to the CDC.

"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."

As cases rise, governors are trying to incentivize more people to get vaccinated. Last week, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee warned that the only way to end the need for masks was if more Washingtonians got vaccinated.

"I know it's frustrating for people to even have to think about [masking], but that's the situation we are in, and the more people who get vaccinated the less we'll have to think about this," Inslee said.

Some places, like the state of Nevada and Kansas City, have recently elected to reinstate mask mandates. Washington has not, though Inslee and the top health officials for 8 Puget Sound counties have issued public statements asking the public to resume masking in indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.

"We recommend all residents wear facial coverings when in indoor public settings where the vaccination status of those around you is unknown," the health officers wrote in a joint letter issued last Monday.

" This step will help reduce the risk of COVID-19 to the public, including customers and workers, help stem the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in many parts of the state and decrease the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant."

Patch Staffer William Bornhoft contributed to this report.

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