When and Where to Mask Up

The majority of Washingtonians should be wearing masks while indoors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week. Of the Evergreen State's 39 counties, 36 have substantial or high rates of COVID-19 spread. As always, NNN is following the latest CDC guidelines, and requesting all members and volunteers to wear masks when indoors.

The highly infectious delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading throughout the U.S. and has gained a strong foothold in Washington, spurring a surge in new cases and hospitalizations. In response, many companies are issuing new mask policies for staff or customers.

• PCC Community Markets: PCC announced late last month that all 15 of the co-op's locations would request that customers wear masks.
• Walmart: Employees at stores and facilities in areas with substantial or high rates of spread will be required to wear masks while working indoors.
• Costco: its Washington locations will follow the face mask recommendations in their local jurisdiction.
• McDonald's: employees and customers must wear masks while inside at their restaurants, if they're in an area with substantial or high rates of COVID-19 spread.
• Home Depot: All Home Depot employees must wear masks while working, the company announced this week. Customers will be asked to wear masks, and complimentary masks will be available at the door for shoppers.
• REI: Starting Monday, REI began strongly recommending that shoppers wear face masks in CDC-designated designated "substantial" or "high" transmission areas — including Puget Sound.
• Target: Target is once again requiring employees to wear face masks if they're in an area with substantial or high spread. 
• Kroger, QFC, and Fred Meyer: The Kroger family of stores, is asking both customers and shoppers to wear masks while inside stores, regardless of vaccination status.