Aug 2, 2021 - Health

Target reinstates mask mandate for employees in high-risk counties

Target will start to require masks for employees in high-risk counties across the United States starting Tuesday, the company announced Monday.

Driving the news: The new policy comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated guidance recommending vaccinated people wear masks in indoor, public settings if they are in parts of the country with substantial to high transmission.

The big picture: Target strongly recommends that customers who are shopping in high-risk areas wears a mask, but will not be enforcing them.

Currently, 59.7% of U.S. counties have “high transmission” and 18.8% have “substantial transmission," according to CDC data.
"We’ll follow all local mandates, as we have throughout the pandemic, and continue to monitor guidance from the CDC closely," the company said in a statement. "We will also maintain all of our health and safety protocols that include increased cleaning measures and social distancing."

Go deeper: More corporations are requiring workers to get vaccinated