GameStop customers in the United States will be required to wear a face mask in all stores, the company announced Friday. The new protocol will go into effect on July 27. Customers with concerns, or health-related issues in wearing a face covering are all directed to use the GameStop online store.
We believe this is the right thing to do to ensure the heath, safety and well-being of our associates and customers from the growing spread of COVID-19, GameStop CEO George Sherman said. Providing a safe environment in our stores for all customers and store associates continues to be our top priority and wearing a face covering is a simple step every one of us can take to ensure the safety of others in our stores.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control began recommending face masks in public in early April. Face masks can prevent air particles from traveling as far as they might otherwise a crucial step in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Not only obviously sick people should wear masks, either; COVID-19 can also be spread through asymptomatic people, too, who might unknowingly spread the virus.
It sounds simple, of course, but the novel coronavirus pandemic is more than a public health crisis, as Recode wrote in May. Misinformation has made mask-wearing a contentious political statement that has sparked protests in some places. Many states have implemented their own mask requirements, but plenty of counties are refusing to enforce those mandates.
Large retail stores have begun issuing their own policies that require shoppers to wear face masks inside. GameStop joins a list of retailers with mask rules, which includes Target, Walmart, Publix, Best Buy, and Starbucks.
The mandate is a stark contrast to GameStops early response to the pandemic, in which the company argued it was an essential business that must remain open when non-essential stores had to close. Employees told Polygon believed the company was putting its retail workers at risk. Days later, GameStop closed its U.S. stores to customers in response to the government shutdown, offering only curbside pickup and delivery. Stores began reopening in late April.
