Albertsons won't require face masks in Texas stores starting March 10

The Albertsons supermarket chain will not require customers at its Texas stores to wear face masks starting March 10 when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's order lifting the previous statewide mask mandate takes effect.

Albertsons will encourage customers to continue to wear face coverings, but will not require it, Nancy Keane, a spokesperson at Albertsons Southwest Division in Phoenix, said in an email.

For employees and vendors, "we will continue to follow CDC guidance" and continue to require face coverings for them, she said.

Albertsons has 44 Texas stores, including seven in El Paso, with an eighth store to open April 7 in far East El Paso. The company, based in Boise, Idaho, is one of the nation's largest supermarket chains, operating under a host of brand names. Its five other supermarket brands in Texas, with 166 stores, also won't require face masks for customers. The other chains are Tom Thumb, United, Randalls, Market Street, and Amigos.

"We will continue our COVID health and safety measures, including enhanced cleaning protocols, social distancing guidelines, plexiglass barriers (for chec... (Read more)

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