As the CDC reverses mask policy, Apple, Costco, Walmart, and others have some research to do

As the CDC reverses mask policy, Apple, Costco, Walmart, and others have some research to do

CDC now recommends that people, regardless of vaccination status, wear face masks again indoors in certain situations.

CDC centers reversed course on concealment guidelines this week — and the move has important implications for retailers and other businesses. Some restaurants, for example, are already telling customers, "No sabotage, no service," as the delta variable is prevalent.

 CDC  recommends that people, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask indoors in areas with "high and high transmission" of COVID-19 and K-12 schools. In May, the agency eased face mask guidance, saying it was no longer necessary for fully vaccinated individuals to wear an indoor mask.

Speaking to reporters this week, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Wallinsky highlighted her concerns about the highly contagious delta variant and the large proportion of people who haven't been vaccinated. It defined "large and high transmission" as 50 or more new cases per 100,000 people over seven days.

The CDC's reflection also suggests that the pandemic is far from over, even with many Americans returning to shop, travel, attend concerts and sporting events, and go to bars and nightclubs.

According to the CDC countywide case tracker, more than 2,000 US counties, or 63% of all counties, are experiencing significant or high transmission. "Many infections that are now occurring in the United States are the result of people who are not immunized compared to people who have been vaccinated," Walinsky told SiriusXM on Wednesday.

The reversal further suggests that the pandemic is far from over, even with many Americans returning to shop, travel, attend concerts and sporting events, and go to bars and nightclubs, activities previously considered unsafe. Airlines require masks, but other organizations have a diverse set of mask policies.

On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that Apple, AAPL, plans 0.70% to require both employees and employees to wear masks as of July 29 in more than half of the 270 US retail stores, citing the following company memo:

Wearing masks indoors at retail stores, gyms, and other outlets will not only protect other customers but employees, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers Federation, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, including pharmacy technicians and grocery store employees.

"Delegating a national mask is the only way we can finally get this virus under control, and every retail executive in the country must realize that it is time for all of us to take cover so we can keep our economy open and our communities safe," the union said in a statement released this week, according to Reuters.

Will other retailers follow suit?

Companies can require recipients to wear masks even if they have been vaccinated. Walmart WMT, 0.29%, and Costco COST, 0.50%, among other large retail chains, donned the mask to vaccinated shoppers after the CDC issued its mask guidelines in May. The companies are not available to comment on whether they were updating their mask policies.

Ultimately, state and local governments don't have to adopt the CDC's recommendations, but Mark Cohen, a former CEO of Sears Canada Inc., thinks all companies should do just that. He would "insist on vaccinations and masks for all employees and masks for all customers," he said.