Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced he was inside of businesses across the state of Texas. That means beginning Wednesday, March 10, you may see more maskless people than usual out shopping for groceries and other supplies.
But while some companies have already signaled new policies to allow customers to go without face coverings, others are adhering to , which recommend people wear masks in public and while occupying indoor public spaces.
Here鈥檚 a look at how some of the biggest retail businesses in Texas are responding to the change.
叠耻肠-别别鈥檚
A 叠耻肠-别别鈥檚 spokesperson said the company was crafting a statement in response to the governor鈥檚 decision, but did not provide a responce as of Wednesday afternoon. This story will be updated if the company responds.
Costco
A Costco representative said they will stick with the mask-wearing requirement at its Texas outlets. , it's president and CEO, notes that customers are required to wear masks.
H-E-B
The San Antonio-based supermarket chain said it will require employees to wear masks indoors, and will be asking shoppers to wear them as well 鈥� but won鈥檛 be requiring face coverings for customers, according to Lisa Helfman, public affairs director with H-E-B Houston.
鈥淎lthough there is no longer a statewide mask order, H-E-B believes it is important that masks be worn in public spaces until more Texans and our Partners have access to the Covid-19 vaccine,鈥� Helfman wrote in an email. 鈥淎s an essential service provider during the pandemic, H-E-B is focused on the health and safety of our Partners and customers. H-E-B will still require all our Partners and vendors to wear masks while at work, and we urge all customers to please wear a mask when in our stores.鈥�
Kroger
After a Houston-based spokesperson told Houston Public Media Wednesday morning that the grocery chain would 鈥渆ncourage鈥� all customers to wear masks, the company later reversed course, saying that it would instead mandate face coverings for all shoppers inside Kroger stores across the country.
鈥淭o ensure the continued safety of our customers and associates, The Kroger Family of Companies will continue to require everyone in our stores across the country to wear masks until all our frontline grocery associates can receive the COVID-19 vaccine,鈥� read a statement from April Martin, a spokesperson for Kroger in Texas. 鈥淲e also continue to advocate to federal, state and local officials to prioritize frontline grocery workers for the vaccine rollout plan, and we will offer a $100 one-time payment to associates who receive the recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Randalls
Randall鈥檚 did not respond to requests for comment. This story will be updated if the company responds, but the Houston Chronicle that the store will not mandate masks.
Target
Target says it will continue to requiring masks from employees and customers in all of its stores, with minimal exemptions, according to a statement from Target spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo.
鈥淲e require guests to wear masks or face coverings in all of our stores, except for guests with underlying medical conditions and young children,鈥� Harper-Tibaldo said. 鈥淲e also require all store team members to wear masks at work and have provided them with reusable and disposable masks. Those who have been vaccinated for coronavirus are still required to wear a mask and follow all social distancing guidelines, in line with current CDC guidance.鈥�
Walmart
Walmart did not respond to requests for comment. This story will be updated if the company responds. , an update from July noting a face covering rquirement remains unchanged.
Houston Public Media鈥檚 Florian Martin and Matt Harab contributed to this report. Additional reporting by Brian Kirkpatrick of Texas Public Radio.