Many shoppers and workers say the retailers’ reluctance to police their customers’ mask wearing ultimately renders the new rules toothless and will perpetuate the spread of the coronavirus. In a stance echoed by its mask policy, the company said managers of stores in states that have open-carry laws are instructed to ask customers to leave their gun in their car. Walmart said there had not been a recent increase in shoppers bringing guns into stores across the country during the pandemic. Mr. Vanderpool said Walmart should hire security guards to enforce the mask rule and protect employees from contracting the virus. In a statement, Walmart said, “we are pleased that the vast majority of the 150 million customers who visit us each week are wearing masks.”

Source: New York Times July 29, 2020 09:01 UTC