Costco Will Require Customers to Wear Face Masks Starting May 4th

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sign at Costco requiring face masks

Costco is making changes to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. And now Costco is making changes to its Guest Shopping Policy that will require customers to keep their faces covered in the warehouse at all times.

Beginning May 4th, Costco will implement a new policy that requires all members and guests to wear a mask or other face covering that covers the mouth and nose while inside the warehouse. This policy will not apply to children under the age of 2 or to individuals who are unable to cover their face due to a medical condition.

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This new requirement follows several other measures that Costco has taken to help limit the spread of coronavirus inside its warehouse locations. Members are reminded that the use of a mask is not a substitute for social distancing, and they’re asked to continue to maintain social distancing while shopping at Costco.


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Comments 362

  1. Shirley

    I guess I won’t be back to Costco until the new policy is removed. Are they going to make us wear gloves next? There are no wipes for the carts or an employee cleaning the carts when I was there yesterday.

    • HopeC

      That don’t tell me what to do attitude is a big reason as to why this virus has gotten so out of hand to begin with.

      • Shirley

        No. It is the the media that has gotten this virus out of hand.

        • dylanfan

          No, it’s people like you.

          • Christina

            Actually it’s not selfish. Coming from someone who is claustrophobic. I hope your prepared to help a person if they pass out because of the required masks. If your so worried about getting it stay home, you can order your groceries online and have them delivered.

            • Pam

              Here’s another thought. You can order your groceries online and have them delivered, since you are claustrophobic.

              • Blue

                Not everyone lives in an area where this is possible. It’s a 30 mile drive one way for me to get my groceries. Delivery and pick up aren’t an option for me.

                • Pam

                  Which could also be true for the people being told to stay home and have their groceries delivered.

              • Cheyenne

                So can you if you are worried about the people who won’t wear masks.

            • Valerie0408

              My husband is claustrophobic too and he works for a grocery store that requires him to wear them. 1st thing I make him wear one for him and our family and he has been perfectly fine wearing mask for 8 hrs a day. Dont be selfish making excuses when you’ll only need to wear it for all of maybe 30 minutes.

              • Selah

                Maybe stay home if you’re worried and let other people live their lives? That would be the unselfish thing to do.

        • joni

          it has been a law in New York for a month in every store. anyone that thinks its the media and not real feel free to stay home. and watch the News in Ny AND Nj.

        • Michele B.

          Shirley I agree! The data does not match the hype.

          • k2laz

            The data doesn’t match? What does that mean? Are you saying the media lies about the people who have passed away from this? 60,000 people dying in 2 months is a huge deal! You are very unintelligent and I hope all stores do this so we don’t have to deal with selfish uninformed people like you!

            • Amber

              1. Deaths are listed as Covid deaths even when Covid isn’t the primary cause. So yes, the numbers are slightly inflated. 2. There are 2.8 million deaths in the US every year. That’s 233,333 deaths per month. Why do you only care about the 30,000 Covid deaths and not the other 200,000? Because of the media. 3. Out of a population of 323 million, 0.019% have died of Covid. It also has a 98% survival rate. Maybe turn off the news, take a deep breath, and stop thinking your level of fear gives your the right force others what to do.

              • Jaci

                Amber….where are you getting this data from? It’d be helpful to see the data. All those deaths are only due to a medical condition? Also, there are many deaths happening that are due to Covid-19 that are not listed as such. Some people in NY have opted to stay home even if they’re very sick. If they’re going to die, they prefer to do it closer & around those they love as opposed to alone in a hospital, even though thanks to technology many have been able to be there virtually. So I think the numbers are actually higher than what they’re reporting. Some have gotten well that have underlying conditions but others haven’t. Human life is precious. When it’s our time to go, we really don’t have much to say. Yet if we can live longer and not shorter our lifespan due to some pandemic, that may be a best scenario. All of us play a role in this society and we’re also mothers, dads, uncles, grandparents, friends, etc. so I wish to have these people around longer in my life as long as they have quality of life. You speak about fear. But sometimes it has nothing to do with that. You obviously are not a healthcare worker dealing with this virus in a hospital or a healthcare facility. If you were and you were especially in a densely populated state caring for these people, maybe you would think differently.

                • Amber

                  From the CDC, its all easily accessible. Place of death doesn’t matter in terms of cause of death. An autopsy would still be performed if the death is not deemed as natural and would still be reported. The truth on the disease and the statistics surrounding it do not change from occupation to occupation. Health care workers see patients die from heart disease every day yet I have never heard of one advocating for or trying to pass a mandate to get fast food restaurants shut down. I sympathize with the families who lost love ones, and I appreciate the healthcare workers (those who are actually lucky enough to still be working instead of being furloughed and especially those who don’t use PPE to make silly dance videos on tiktok). But fanning the flames to get people to do what you want and then claiming they’re ‘anti-science’ or selfish when they question the response to the data not matching up is just wrong.

                  • Jaci

                    Ofcourse place of death doesn’t matter. That’s not what I meant. There are many people dying in NY and it’ll take awhile for autopsies to be done, if it ever happens when everything that’s going on. I’m sure the number of deaths due to this virus are probably a lot higher than what they’re reporting right now in NY. Latest appalling case is the funeral home in Brooklyn, NY that license got suspended and the nursing home where they reported they had 9 cases of Covid-19 & now turns out there are 100 deaths. I can’t even imagine how the family members feel about not being informed about this and what they must be going through. You still didn’t provide link for data you referred to earlier. But not necessary. I hope you and your loved ones stay safe & healthy.
                    Stay healthy everyone!

            • Sara

              If 60,000 people dying from one disease in two months is a huge deal, and worth shutting down the entire nation, what about the approx 99,800 who have died from cancer in the past two months? Or the 107,900 who have died from heart disease in the past two months? Over a million Americans are killed from those two diseases alone every. single. year. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm But we don’t hear any uproar for better treatments or prevention because that’s old news and won’t generate any clicks for the media or votes for the politicians.

          • Jaci

            Perhaps you’re from a state that this virus is not so widespread, which it’s great. Can you please post a web link for the data that you’re referring to?

            • Sara

              https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm
              Stats from 2017 are the latest I could get, but everything else I’ve read said that those mortality numbers have only increased as our population has increased. I’m incensed because about 600,000 Americans die from cancer every year (a truly horrific way to die) and 650,000 die from heart disease every year, but those diseases are old news and therefore those lives aren’t worth fighting for.

        • Deb

          Shirley you don’t happen to work in an ICU obviously. Just because you are not seeing it, living it, doesn’t mean it isn’t killing people. SMH. Really you’re going to cry over a mask? Do you wear a seat belt? You rebel you.

        • Shelie

          you are saying the media killed 60,000 people?

      • Donna

        Exactly HopeC. We will never come through this when people think this way.

      • Mary

        Completely agree with HopeC and Donna. Don’t understand the issue with wearing a mask to protect everyone, including yourself. For those that don’t want to, stay home. One less person to deal with at Costco, yay!

        • sue

          Best answer! Yes less people without masks to deal with

        • Amber

          Don’t be so selfish. You don’t get to dictate what other people do. Here’s an idea. If you want to wear a mask, wear one. If you don’t, don’t. If you’re afraid of others because they don’t wear masks, stay home.

          • woopdee

            You don’t get to dictate what Costco does. Here’s an idea. If you don’t want to wear a mask, don’t wear one. If you’re afraid of others because they do wear masks, stay home.

            • Amber

              I appreciate you’re attempt at wit, but your response doesn’t even make sense. 1. I’m not trying to dictate what Costco does, I just won’t give them my business. 2. I’m not afraid of people who wear masks. Hence, that wouldn’t be a reason for me to stay home.

          • Mike

            Amber,
            Appreciate your comments. You just can’t win with common sense when these poor people are scared and refuse to hear the truth.

      • oo

        Very selfish people

      • Nicole

        Right Hope! So selfish to not care about other people.

    • Megan

      You could always bring a wipe with you? I keep them in my car just in case for this reason.

    • nancypantcy

      Good. Keep your germs at home.

      • Ani

        👏👏👏 nancypantcy

    • Carmen

      You should WANT to wear a mask and do all you can to protect OTHERS. It’s not about you. You could have COVID-19 and not know and be spreading it around. There are almost 60k Americans who have died… how has the media had anything to do with that fact?

      • Kathleen

        100%!!! I don’t understand people’s dismissive and selfish attitude towards others lives!!

      • Doug

        CDC and Dr Fauci said 2.5 million Americans could die. Yes, it was over-hyped. Sick and elderly need to take precautions, just like for flu season. The rest of us will be fine. Being exposed to COVID-19 and any other virus only helps to build up your immunity.

        • Elaine Kasten

          The thing about this virus that is very different from flu– it affects the body in so many ways–blood clots that can cause stroke or result in amputation, lung deficits that will never go fully resolve, PTSD from many more days on a ventilator, kidney dysfunction, etc. The more we learn about it the scarier it is. I don’t do well with a mask on either, but if my wearing a mask will prevent one death or devastating injury I will do it. I was at Costco yesterday and most people were wearing masks.

        • Stella

          You are clearly misrepresenting the facts. When data was released indicating 1- 2+ Americans would die, that information was based on our country failing to enact “stay-at-home” protocol, failure to test, treat and track known Covid-19 cases. That was NOT media hype it was based on cumulative data from coutries such as Italy, Spain, Iran and Russia that waited too long to put safeguards in place tp protect their citizens. While your entitled to your opinion, no matter how wrong, misinformed or distorted it is, you are NOT entitled to lie about the facts! Goodness, our country is in a pandemic of which we have not experienced before due to the novel nature of this virus; wearing a mask while out in public does not infringe on anyone’s Constitutional or Civil rights. You do not have the right to put others at risk. It really is that simple.

          • Jaci

            Well said Stella!

        • Another Shelly

          We don’t know if it was over-hyped because it isn’t over. Many young people are dying as well. Two young moms died last week in my community leaving eight children behind.

    • JJ

      The Public Health Service Act passed by Congress in 1944 allows the government to enact whatever measure is needed to protect the public from transmission of diseases. Look it up. Costco is a private business and can do whatever it wants.

    • Katherine Siverts

      Why would you not want to protect the employees that work there?

  2. witoldyna

    I hope they will enforce it in Oklahoma. I haven’t been in the store since the middle of March because people here are so reckless

  3. Lee

    Excellent. I plan on shopping only at businesses where its required. Makes for a much more relaxed shopping experience.

    • Kathleen

      I agree 100%!

      • Alison

        Wow! I can not believe how freaking dumb and completely oblivious you people are that are actually complaining and acting like you’re being so wronged by having to wear a face mask in public to protect yourself and others! Geez wth is wrong with you people? How can you even argue for that without feeling like an idiot? Don’t you have any brains? Why would you think that this isnt why so many people have gotten sick? So if no one wears masks then what is it you think will happen? Im curious? Cus anyone thsts not an idiot could tell you that even a few stupid people like you who refuse to social distance or wear a mask at least…is going to just start this. Whole thing all over…and idk but im sick of this really myself…but I can put myself out a little longer til its to a point were able to get vaccines and just not spread so fast at least…i know if people think this is over now and open everything now its just going to screw us all and this will all have been a big waster of time and loss for everyone! I can’t stand to think about how many stupid people there are that are going to ruin any hope we have by not listening…out of all this things you could fight for or against in this world…thats what you feel the need to rebel and fight back on? Wearing s mask and social distancing to say lives possibly? Lol how pathetic that you dont have anything better to fight for…

  4. Helina

    I’m surprised that isn’t place already everywhere in NY you have to wear one. I ha Ent been there in a few weeks though.

  5. twinmom

    Bad mistake Costco!

    • HopeC

      Trying to lessen the rate of transmission during a pandemic is a bad mistake?

      • Kathleen

        Exactly! I don’t understand people…

        • twinmom

          You don’t need to understand me. Just keep letting the government control you.

          • Deb

            Hope you sent back your stimulus check the government gave you. 🙂

      • twinmom

        Enforce masks now? Why?

    • Heather

      I agree. We live in a free country. Our governor isn’t requiring them, instead leaving it to individual stores to make the decision. Glad my membership expires tomorrow!!

      • Carmen

        So you are perfectly okay possibly being a carrier of the virus and spreading it to tons of other people because “We live in a free country”? That’s sad. I wear a face mask to protect others. I feel fine, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have COVID-19. I will do all I can to protect others. I’m saddened others don’t feel they should do the same. Apparently you have not been impacted personally by this virus.

        • Amber

          Have you always worn a mask or just now after someone told you to? Being an asymptomatic carrier isn’t anything new. You always have and always will be carrying a virus asymptomatically that could spread to a ton of other people. You could just stay at home to protect others. That would be the most virtuous thing to do.

          • Elaine

            Except that most things I could pick up from someone in Costco have a treatment.

            • Amber

              That’s quite an assumption to gamble your life on.

      • dylanfan

        And the store made the decision as the governor allowed…

      • Amy

        Define to me a “free” country. We aren’t a “do whatever you want” country. We still have laws and views. Heck, even outlaws wore bandanas!

      • Casey

        The Supreme Court established that a private business can make these decisions. So… Costco, a private business, can legally ask you to wear one. You, as a private citizen, can opt to not shop there. That’s a free county. I, personally, am pleased with their decision and hope it helps keep others safe. No problem wearing a mask for me.

      • Young

        Let me just remind you you still have freedom to go to a store where masks are not required! Lol!

      • Deb

        No one cares until it hits someone in your home. Hopefully that is NOT what it takes for you to take the simple steps to help.

      • Katherine Siverts

        I am up to keep everyone a little safer while I shop. Its a small price to pay. Some of us could be asymptomatic carriers and I am all for doing my part to stop this and get more on track with a normal life. So why would wearing a face mask risk your rights in a free country. Costco’s employees have a right also to feel safe. Masks protect those around you. AND I totally support our health care workers by not willingly spreading this. I don’t understand this attitude and grudge holding to keep people safe.

    • oo

      I don’t understand how wearing a mask for yourself and others is taking any freedom away from you.

      • twinmom

        Government controlling you…its my choice to wear a mask.

        • woopdee

          1. Yes it is. Just like going to Costco is your choice.
          2. Costco is not the government.

    • Jane

      This amount of ignorance is breathtaking. I am ready to see some natural selection coming up. 😇

      • Mel

        Right? 😂

      • twinmom

        Not ignorant…I think for my self. I don’t need the government to control me.

        • BN

          To Walmart with you, land of non-mask wearing shoppers. Good luck. The ignorance…

        • Dave

          And I bet you don’t stop for red lights or stop signs either because you don’t want to be “controlled”….you want to be “free” go move to your own private island !

        • Amber

          I understand where you’re coming from. I think a lot of people here are spoon fed information from msm. Or they rely on the government to provide for them. Either way, people don’t understand what they don’t want to understand.

      • Amy

        Exactly! How ignorant to think that piece of fabric is going to stop a virus?!

    • KM

      I guess you may have made a bad mistake too, because you fell for Costco’s REQUIRED membership. Make sure to go get that refund for that membership. While you’re at it make sure you also defy the POLICY of showing up WITHOUT A SHIRT AND SHOES.

  6. Emco

    I love the idea and hopefully they will add plastic gloves to the rule. I haven’t been at Costco since all this craziness started, how busy is it now a days? I know it will depend on the club, city, etc. But just an average approach.

    • Emily

      Masks can help stop the spread. Gloves, not as good. They just give people a false sense of security but you can spread just as many germs with gloves as you can with bare hands. If I touchy face or a surface with a glove, it’s the same as touching it with a bare hand unless you are changing gloves any time you touch anything. The better thing would be having people sanitize hands when they walk in the door and having several sanitizing stations throughout the store.

    • Jaci1717

      My Sam’s in IL was quiet when i was there last week in the afternoon.

    • Amber

      I see people with gloves touching all the same surfaces as someone not wearing gloves. They touch a dirty cart reach for their phone and place it on their face. Like someone else said, unless you’re changing them with every single touch it’s not preventing anyone from anything but the person wearing them unless they touch all of their own personal items while wearing them. I went to Olive Garden and watched them touch cars and people’s food then they take the signed credit slip from someone and go to the next car and touch all over that.

  7. Jan from AZ

    Finally, I’ve been waiting for a company to take the lead on this. I work for a large department and grocery chain and pray they do this next. I see 80 percent of people come in with no face protection. They come in with husband’s, wives, children. They are the first to try and hoard all sanitizer and Clorox which is the irony. Not wearing a face mask is putting my life and my families life at risk as well as others. I have a pre existing lung damage and if I can wear it for 8 hours MOST can wear it for a 15 min to 30 min shopping trip. This will help save lives.

    • Ann

      Here in Puerto Rico. From the start of lockdown Costco employees use mask and gloves and desinfect all the carts handles and customers hands. All the people in the island use mask all the time in the outside. This disease is scary.

    • Ann

      Stay safe. Be careful.

    • oo

      Well said Jan. It’s for the safety of everyone.

    • Jaci

      Thank you for all that you do as an essential worker. Stay healthy and safe!

  8. Judy

    Stupid 🤦

  9. Ann

    In Puerto Rico is mandatory to all the employees and customers use mask and maintain social distance all the time. We all protect ourselves and others.

  10. FBC231

    Starting this Friday, everyone in Illinois will be required to wear a face covering/ mask in public (where social distancing isn’t possible, like in stores or at the doctors). I’ve been wearing one for 6 weeks already, so glad they’re requiring it now. I don’t want to inadvertently spread germs to an immunocompromised person when I’m out.

    • Ann

      We need to protect ourselves and others. Safety first!!

    • john908

      Hopefully more citizens of Illinois will file lawsuits for restraining orders against the governor like the representative in down state Illinois did as Pritzker has gone beyond his permissible powers as laid out by the Illinois constitution. Not only that but his policies make little sense. 2 people per boat? No matter how large the boat? Even if they are family members and already live with each other? What if the boat is a wave runner? Somehow that’s the same rule as a 40 ft boat.

      Similarly his attempt to say downstate counties need to be just as worried because they have higher death rates than Chicago…. he picked a county which had 10 deaths, with 9 of them at a nursing home. He then switched to say this shows they have higher rates of infection. (An illogical conclusion considering death rate and rate of infection are 2 different things). Of course once a nursing home gets it, it spreads in the nursing home and the people in the home are screwed. The rest of the county though was in good shape. But sure, rather than be truthful he likes to distort the facts.

      A study regarding the 1918 flu found that the number of cloth layers needed to achieve acceptable efficiency made masks difficult to breathe through and caused leakage around the mask. A piece of cloth will likely do little other than give paranoid people a false sense of security. Similar to taking someone’s temperature before letting someone into a building, if up to 40% of the people never have any symptoms.

  11. earthsign

    I applaud Costco! Thank you for making safety of the customer and employee very important! I will definitely be shopping there! I’m so confused. If you don’t want to walk around with a mask on during this time, then don’t, but don’t put down others for choosing to protect themselves.

    • Kathleen

      Yes!

  12. Chi li

    I went to Costco in Brooklyn 2 weeks ago and everyone was wearing masks. The line to get in was 45 minutes, the place was sparkling clean, and it was a dream to shop. Didn’t realize masks weren’t even mandated to wear in stores..

    • oo

      Same here. I thought masks were mandatory to wear in stores but I guess some states are choosing to ignore science.

  13. Isabel

    If u don’t want to follow the guidelines stay at home we don’t need you out there spreading the virus.

    • J

      I completely agree! The use of masks is to protect others from one’s own germs when we talk, cough, or sneeze.

  14. metta4

    Way to go Costco!!!

  15. LeeF

    Absolutely not- i won’t go until they change this policy. It makes no sense to implement this after all These months and when the virus is subsiding- why start this policy now?? We are trying to get things back to normal And things like this isn’t helping at all. If someone is concerned for themselves they are free to wear one or stay home- should not be required

    • bobmason

      Agree.

      • Patty d

        Absolutely agree

      • Patty d

        And will they be providing these masks??

    • Lori

      I also agree. Wearing the cheap masks or a bandana may offer some help but wont fully protect anyone.

      • hisdudeness915

        So…. your argument is that no protection is better than “some protection”? Smh

    • dylanfan

      You are free not to wear one and stay home. There, I fixed it for you.

      • Kathleen

        👍

      • Amber

        You didn’t fix it. You put your selfish twist on it. Take some personal responsibility instead of making other people cater to you.

    • Antoinette

      Absolutely agree. They’re not only delaying herd immunity by requiring the isolation of the healthy, they’re lowering the immune systems of those who are perfectly fine by reducing normal bacteria transmission. This is immunology 101, folks. Don’t believe the media that this virus is super scary. All the hard data out of CA, NY, Spain, and Sweden is this is widespread and not deadly for most. You have a 99% chance of recovery. All deaths have been because of preexisting conditions that weakend immune systems. Stop trying to police the healthy.

      • Jaci

        Would you care to post percentage of people in the United States that have preexisting conditions? Please take it a step further and what about those people that may not know that they have a preexisting condition in their first place? There are many people that “appear” to be healthy but that’s not always necessarily the case.

      • Kate

        You are talking only about 1% death rate, but not that close to 20% of adults end up with severe disease and in the hospital for weeks. They cannot predict who will have severe symptoms, as adults who are “healthy” are even having complications. They are finding it not only damages and scars the lungs, but can damage, the heart, kidneys, liver, and even the brain. Some are having strokes and heart attacks because the blood is more coagulated and it also has more difficulty transporting oxygen. Until we know which people are at more risk (genetics? medications they are on? immune system function? the amount of virus they were infected with?), we all need to be cautious. Even the “mild to moderate” symptoms they classify adults having include pneumonia. This disease isn’t so “Mild” for many.

    • Hio2saver

      Shopping at Costco is an option so I’m glad you will be staying home instead of following their rules. Think about how many people the employees come in to contact with daily, especially the members who DON’T care. Is it fair for the frontline employees to risk their lives because you won’t wear a mask to pick up your “essentials”?

    • Mary

      Well said LeeF!! Thank you!

    • J

      I disagree with you. Thank you Costco for keeping your stores clean & taking this step. I had to purchase a mask myself on Etsy. Masks are to protect others from YOUR germs. The only way this can be fully effective from spreading the virus is if we all wear them. There’s people out there without any visible symptoms spreading the virus, called carriers. God forbid your elderly parents or grandparents get this virus from these people. It’s simply all about protecting one another. Sam’s Club has already implemented this new policy of wearing some sort of coverage for your nose & mouth. Please reconsider and wear some sort of facial coverage to protect others from your germs.

    • Shelie

      Don’t you get that wearing masks will help us get back to normal?

    • woopdee

      Hopefully there are more that agree with you so the rest of us can shop with less people.

    • Bee

      The virus is subsiding because people are generally staying home. As things re-open, the virus will start spreading again. Wide spread mask-wearing will allow us to gradually go back to “normal” (open businesses) while slowing the spread of the virus. Also, please think of the people who have no choice but to be exposed–the employees at Costco who need their paychecks to provide for themselves/their families, and other essential workers.

    • Kate

      Learn from history. We need to keep it low through mask wearing in public, continued social distancing and sanitation until it completely subsides or we have a vaccine/remedies. In the 1918 flu pandemic, many thought it was gone & no need for masks anymore, but then the worst wave hit. https://www.businessinsider.com/what-san-francisco-can-learn-spanish-flu-pandemic-coronavirus-1918#but-back-then-officials-were-convinced-that-all-people-needed-to-do-was-wear-gauze-masks-to-prevent-transmission-of-the-disease-11

  16. ebg

    how is this not already a requirement nationwide? I’m so glad my city has required masks to shop weeks ago. My costco passes out clorox wipes to everyone walking in to wipe the carts and extended their plastic shield across the whole cashier area. Everyones safety is the most important thing right now.

  17. Donna

    Good job Costco! Well done

  18. Anne

    I don’t think it should be required. I’ve seen so many people adjust and touch their masks and wear them improperly. I also read that if the mask gets damp from your breath that you are not supposed to wear it as it can actually increase your chances of harboring germs in it under those conditions. I don’t see how a non-medical CLOTH mask is really going to protect people. Also the virus can enter through the eyes and those aren’t covered when you wear a mask. I don’t understand the flip flop by the government with making this recommendation. As far as I know the WHO is still sticking with the policy of leaving masks to the medical professionals. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51205344 I’m going to go one more time before May 4th and not after until this is not required. I don’t shop when it is crowded and keep my distance from people already.

  19. Pinky

    Glad they implement that since there is no cure yet. Is it that difficult for the reluctant to wear a mask ? On the other hand , if they choose not to wear and not go to the stores requiring it, than great, less people at the stores.

  20. Mary

    I will ONLY shop at stores that require them. I do not want or need to be exposed. We will soon hear how those stores that don’t require them had to close down because one of their employees has the virus. That just tells me they don’t care about their employees or the customer. Sad 🙁

    • Kathleen

      Exactly!

    • john908

      ’In terms of homemade masks, made of cloth, scarves or paper… The evidence is that they’re next to useless because the virus passes straight through them. – Dr. Hilary Jones

  21. joni

    remind me to renew my Costco Membership. Shows even when not mandatory they really care about the health of their customers and employees I applaud them!!

    • J

      Agreed!

  22. Amy

    Asking you to wear a mask would really make you stop going to a store? Those who think it’s taking away their freedom really need to look at the “rules” that are already implemented in your life that you just don’t see or notice anymore. This is a change, and one we have to accept to help ourselves and others. I thought we were supposed to love our fellow American, if we truly believed in the spirt. Accept changes, keep you and yours family safe, and hope that the virus does not come back around, or another one doesn’t come take its place. It’s just small steps, no one is taking anything away from you.

    • Anne

      Thank you Amy! I can’t believe some of the posts on here crying about losing their “Freedom”! We have been wearing masks since the quarantine started, and we haven’t lost any freedom! On the contrary, I feel safer going out to do grocery shopping knowing I have a mask that offers some degree of protection!

    • Mary

      Well said Amy!!

    • Kathleen

  23. Csandst1

    Keep your hand clean and don’t touch your face until you’ve cleaned your hands and you will never get the virus.

    • Anne

      You can still get the virus from inhaling particles in the air that were emitted by an infected person. That’s what the masks are for – they help to prevent you from accidentally inhaling Covid19 droplets, and if you’re sick, they prevent you from spreading those infected droplets to others. The masks work to protect both the sick and the healthy.

    • lydia

      It’s airborne. Just washing your hands and not touching your face isn’t enough. A very good friend of mine is a critical care physician at a hospital that has been hard hit and overwhelmed with patients. Air samples from as far as 8 feet from patient rooms have tested positive. Be careful out there!

      • Jaci

        Please thank your physician friend!!

      • J

        I heard the same that this virus is in the air. They’re definitely not going to cause a panic and tell us everything they know about the virus. The next generation will probably find out the truth.

    • k2laz

      No! That’s not correct! Get informed, it is airborne!

  24. Wren

    This is so polarizing. We will not wear masks. If you think you need one, fine, wear one. But requiring them to be worn is over the top. Don’t bother leaving replies about how selfish I am- I won’t be back to check.

  25. longhorn87

    I have a hard time wearing a mask and would love some advice or ideas if anyone has any! I have 2 issues: 1. The tear ducts in one of my eyes never opened when I was a baby. So I have an eye that waters pretty constantly. When I tried to wear a mask to the grocery store for some reason it made my eye water really really bad and it made my nose run nonstop! So For the first 20 minutes I was constantly having to stop and wipe my eye and nose and it was awful. I finally had to take it off. Any tips?

    • Anne

      Maybe try a bandana instead of a mask?

    • Kathleen

      Does your mask have a nose wire? Is it a pleated or fitted style? Elastic or cloth ties? Is it 100% cotton or some other material? Could one of those details be bothering your eye?

    • tmf1968

      If the problem is because your exhaled breath is escaping your mask above your mouth maybe try making sure that your mask is snug around the nose. There definitely are some masks that do this better than others. Best wishes

    • J

      Check your grocery stores for pick up. Walmart offers grocery store pick up with a minimum of a $35 purchase. You don’t even have to get off your vehicle. Kroger also has pick up, no minimum purchase. Hope this helps.

    • Marinova

      Double mask or shove a Kleenex under your mask, diaper (or maxi pad style). Not glamorous, but no one notices. I speak from experience. 😊

  26. Mary

    Wow. I am worried for our future in America. Too many of you are so willing to give up your freedom for a false sense of security perpetuated by the media. Please educate yourself and use some common sense before our great country is ruined and our freedoms stripped away forever. We do not need to cower in our homes and bash people that prefer to support our economy and resume living our normal lives.

    PS : Cotton masks do not prevent this virus from spreading. You are being lied to.

    • Pinky

      No one is giving up their freedom. If u don’t want to wear it, great …u don’t have to shop at Costco. If people want to wear it, great, they feel it helps them and they can go where ever mask is required.

    • Amy

      I didn’t know wearing a mask hindered your life so much.

    • Jaci

      I’m all about resuming our lives and for our freedoms to be protected safely. I’m from NY. I unfortunately know of friends losing/grieving family members due to this virus. I have a son with asthma so a virus like this can be deadly to him. When I go out shopping I wear a mask it for him, for myself and for everyone else. I wear glasses as I need them to read small print. Airlines are taking steps so that everyone wear a mask during a flight. There are a lot of unknown about this virus so if we can all take a small step to save a life, why don’t we do that?
      Stay healthy & safe everyone!

      • Kathleen

    • lexi

      Exactly. This is an airborne virus. Masks prevent the transmission of droplets. Meaning a nonmedical cloth mask isn’t going to cut it. This hysteria has gotten out of control. People are ignorant. The problem is the media and political agendas.

      • J

        Mary & Lexi you all are acting as if you’re scientist or have studied this virus & know things about the virus the rest of us don’t calling those who are taking it seriously “ignorant”. Yet neither mention YOUR qualifications. How insensitive are you both for not taking into consideration the many lives lost due to COVID19. This virus is not a joke. Thinking this virus is something political or brought on by the media, now that’s ignorant! Please have consideration for others, keep your germs to yourself, & wear a facial covering. God bless you doctors & nurses!

        • Mary

          Actually I am educated and well versed on infectious diseases. Maybe if you would open your mind and do some reaserch for yourself, you would realize there are large portions of this country that are not bothered with this virus. Ironically, mostly areas that have not shut down and locked themselves away from the world. These “one size fits all” policy mandates are ridiculous. You can be content to sit at home with your mask and sanitizer but I am not willing to stand by and let a virus that 99% of those infected recover from destroy our country. Wearing a cloth mask is not going to prevent this virus from spreading and it is silly to pretend that it is the cure.

          • Kate

            Since you are educated about this virus, then you are aware you are talking only about 1% death rate, but not that close to 20% of adults end up with severe disease and in the hospital for weeks. They cannot predict who will have severe symptoms, as adults who are “healthy” are even having complications. They are finding it not only damages and scars the lungs, but can damage, the heart, kidneys, liver, and even the brain. Some are having strokes and heart attacks because the blood is more coagulated and it also has more difficulty transporting oxygen. Until we know which people are at more risk (genetics? medications they are on? immune system function? the amount of virus or viral load they were infected with?), we all need to be cautious. Even the “mild to moderate” symptoms they classify adults as having includes pneumonia. This disease isn’t so “mild” for many. Also, since you are educated in infectious disease, you are aware of exponential growth of spread of this extremely contagious disease, so that areas that currently aren’t seeing cases can quickly become the next hot spot of infection if precautions aren’t taken to monitor and control spread. This will be ongoing until we have a vaccine/remedies for this new virus. Also learn from the 1918 flu pandemic that protecting yourself and others with masks until it completely dies down is a smart and easy precaution to take. https://www.businessinsider.com/what-san-francisco-can-learn-spanish-flu-pandemic-coronavirus-1918

      • Dave

        Wrong ! Wearing a mask obviously cuts down the distance it spreads when you cough or sneeze….without a mask a sneeze can go like 10 feet….with a mask it gets knocked down duh !

    • Deb

      This is so tiresome. Why not get rid of all the rules and laws? Let’s all drive 200 miles an hour and if I crash into you and put you in the hospital I’ll just say well you know MY FREEDOM.

      • Amber

        Why even drive at all? Automobile accidents kill 38,000 Americans per year. You could help reduce the risk and maybe save a life if you would just give up your freedom to drive a car. It would be the unselfish thing to do.

        • Kate

          Does every car crash spontaneously cause 2 others? If it did, we’d all be off of the roads and there would be a recall until it was fixed. That is what one infectious person does and then those people each spread it to 2 others (some are super lucky and can infect even more!). Exponential growth.

    • TM

      There are stores and businesses other than Costco required shirts and shoes for service. Some even prohibit weapons. Not sure how requiring you or anyone to wear shirt and shoes stripped them of their freedom. Shirt and shoe policy was a ‘new’ at some point in time, but it’s been around for so long nobody bats an eye at this policy. Wearing a mask is no different. These are private businesses that have the ability to require what they want, just like their paid membership. If you feel like your freedom is stripped from you by wearing a shirt, shoes and paying for a membership then don’t shop at Costco.

      • Amber

        If the ‘no shirt, no shoes’ has caused those businesses to lose a significant amount of customers or profit though, those restrictions would have been listed. But obviously most people prefer to wear shoes and shirts when they go into businesses. I think this is going to be different. Masks aren’t clothing. That would be like saying you can’t come in unless you’re wearing sunglasses. Masks have been associated with sickness for so long I really can’t see the majority of healthy people voluntarily wearing them for an extended period of time. If businesses see their numbers dropping, they’ll lift the policy. Time will tell.

  27. lydia

    It’s been required for going inside of ANY business that is still open (grocery stores, liquor stores, gas stations, pharmacies, target, walmart) in my county for a few weeks now. We are hard hit and this makes my few trips out a little more relaxing- knowing that we are all protected from each other.
    My parents and elderly aunts are at such high risk that they haven’t left their homes in about 2 months now. I have been doing their groceries for them at Costco and dropping them off for them. Costco employees have been so kind and professional throughout all of this.

  28. frugal-fit-sexy

    Thank you for keeping the rest of us safe , Costco

  29. NOLAGIRLINTHESTACKS

    Whether you decide to wear one or not while you’re out and about will be up to you. Just remember that the store has made a policy and LET YOU KNOW in advance. Don’t like it? Don’t shop there. There will always be someone there who will.
    I am all for proactive policies that keep us safe, healthy and able to be productive citizens. Be well and be safe.

    • Kathleen

    • k2laz

      Yes exactly! I’m sure Costco isn’t crying about losing you as a customer!

  30. Casey

    I went to Costco yesterday and masked employees were wiping down carts as they gave them to us. It was nice and well organized.

  31. Brandi

    This virus is on the tale end now, I don’t see a need for this. 2 months is enough already?! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Get people back to work and end this madness…. Elderly and sick should stay home and let America get back to living. ❤️

    • Belle

      And that’s how the curve dips up again 🙃

    • lydia

      Maybe where you live, but where I’m at we are still losing several hundreds every day and the number keeps growing daily.

    • Shelie

      YOU don’t see a need so YOU can go some place else!!!! How’s that for common sense?

    • J

      Brandi tell that to the doctors and nurses making the ultimate sacrifice day in and day out, so you can go on and “live your life”.

      • Amber

        Most our doctors and nurses are furloughed. They’d love to go on and live their lives again too.

      • Amy

        Same here. Nurses are being sent home and hospitals are virtually empty. Just because the news says hospitals are full doesn’t mean it’s true. I worry about the non covid patients that are being refused and suffering.

    • Valerie0408

      Birds of a feather flock together and die together. Mentality like yours is ruining this country thinking your better than the sick and elderly so you get to move on with your life.

      • Amber

        So letting the healthy resume life, build herd immunity, keep the economy afloat while protecting the sick and elderly is ruining the country? But keeping everyone inside, killing healthy immune systems, and killing the economy simultaneously is the logical answer? I don’t understand.

  32. Tiff

    Good!!!!

  33. misti

    It’s entertaining to read the comments. I am shocked how many people are misinformed.

    • DJ Vin

      I’m just here for the comments as well… please carry on…

    • ann

      Yes. It is excruciatingly obvious they have no medical knowledge and aren’t listening to any medical experts.

  34. Bbbsarah24

    So I’m assuming all these people will start wearing masks during cold and flu season. After all you COULD have and and you Could pass it on.

    • Pam

      There’s a vaccine for flu if people chose to get it. Not the case for covid-19.

      • lexi

        A vaccine that rarely works? We need herd immunity

        • Pam

          The flu vaccine works for 40-60% of people. Which is better than the the 0% available for covid-19. Do you live with anyone that is immuno-compromised? If not, maybe the herd immunity alone works for you.

        • ann

          As long as we keep the number that need to be hospitalized controllable (and by the way, you obviousy dont know about the young healthy people with no preexisting factors that have died from this (they have just discovered this virus causes strokes in younger people…people experiencing NO other symptoms). Please do your research so you are safe. I am sure you are.imporatnt to someone.

    • Amanda N

      Except people with colds and the flu are not asymptomatic… 😒🙄

      • Bbbsarah24

        You do realize people are contagious before and after symptoms are gone, right? Meaning they are contagious before they know they are sick?

    • Yia M.

      What’s the R0 for influenza and what is the R0 for Covid-19? Your answer lies in the question.

    • kw

      Hahaa……EXACTLY, is all of this going to be done for cold & flu seasons???!!!! We can’t pick n choose how to react to contagions. Still not sure why people bother with a mask of they wear it below the nose. Pointless. All pointless & beyond the point of overkill + panic. Lord help us. Seriously. H-E-L-P us all.

  35. Mike

    Most people wear masks incorrectly. They either do not fit correctly or they touch them way too much. Not seeing this as a good thing.

    • lexi

      So true. I’ve seen so many people wearing them incorrectly and cross contaminating 😣

  36. Lase

    Costco is the best. They clean after every customer, clean the carts, even checkout for you at self checkout to minimize you touching anything. No lines at my Costco. I’m a forever customer.

  37. Yia M.

    Folks, this virus is not at its tail end. It has no “hosts” because we are all at home..when we stop social distancing, then it will come back. A virus needs a host (living thing) to survive. Why have the projections of deaths gone down? Because we are all at home and not giving the virus a place to live. The Spanish Flu (1918) killed more people the second go around..because people thought the virus was dying. Strange how if you need your car repaired, you go to an expert/ mechanic… but for pandemics, everyone with an internet browser is an expert. I argued with multiple people back in early March who discounted Covid-19 as no big deal, now we are at 60k deaths and counting.

    • MellisaB

      I agree completely 👍🏻. My son who has asthma and my husband who has terminal cancer have to be very cautious. So, when I go out, I wear my mask, perhaps it helps, maybe not but I am being responsible for my health and my families health. I am acutely aware of touching my face, carts are being sanitized and the first thing I do when back to the car is put antibacterial soap on my hands. When I get home, I wipe down all the groceries with hand sanitizing wipes, I leave shoes at the front door and all laundry goes into the clothes basket. Overkill, maybe, maybe not but I am going to make an effort to keep those I love as safe as possible. IMO, the masks are not comfortable, they are annoying but it just adds another layer of protection to all fellow citizens. As my autistic son would say, rules are rules, we have to follow them. Costco is letting everyone know in advance that this will be the new procedure and until we have a proven vaccine we must follow the rules.

    • Valerie0408

      👍

    • ann

      I can guarantee you that unfortunately where I live to say people have been staying home is FALSE. Traffic is heavy and store parking lots ar packed (more so than ever before)

  38. Jen

    A gal in know..her husband has been in ICU for approx 30 days with Covid 19. 2 weeks were spent on ECMO…if you dont know what that is, its basically life support in a nut shell. He is recovering very very slowly, thankfully, and for a brief time they weren’t sure whether or not he would pull through. He has a very long recovery road ahead of him. I’m glad Costco is doing this, wish more stores would. We all need to be doing everything we can to protect ourselves and our families, whether its using masks and gloves, ordering for pick up or delivery, or finding someone who can shop for you. Stay safe everyone.

    • Lmb

      Hi Jen, I’m so glad to hear that your husband is recovering. My thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone that has been impacted by this. I think Costco’s decision to institute this new policy says a lot about their company. Caring about your employees and customers is a good thing! It’s frankly nice to see. We currently have no pre-existing conditions in our immediate family but I’m very aware how quickly that can change for anyone of us. I just want you to know that we will gladly wear a mask,gloves and self-quarantine. Whatever it takes to protect those of us who are vulnerable and those who are not. Stay Safe and Stay Healthy:)

  39. Ivan

    Really a stupid, knee jerk (and late) reaction from Costco. If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 70, sure..wear a mask. But the facts show COVID-19 is nothing more than the flu to the rest of the population. I would expect Costco to reverse course on this quickly.

    • ann

      ??? I am hoping you posted this to be funny or something? My friends work in a hospital and if you’re listening to ANY medical professionals this is 6 times more contagious than the flu and they now know younger people (20’s and 30’s with no outward symptoms and no health conditions have been having strokes because they have covid) Please research. Perhaps look at a different place to get news from. Please be safe.

      • Lenardh

        Perhaps you should check a different news channel too. I have family members working in hospital as well… hospital that are empty and close to go bankrupt. The virus IS very contagious which means it’s very spread already ( per latest data) but the mortality is very low! So just because something is ultra contagious doesn’t mean it’s very deadly.

  40. michele

    NJ has for at least 3 weeks

  41. Amanda

    lol do any of you have ANYTHING better to do? Jw..saw 131 posts and it’s hilarious. Go find something to do and enjoy being alive.

    • Erin

      Nope! We’re all quarantining at home!

    • Shelie

      So, why are you here commenting? Do you think we care what you have to say?

  42. Doug

    I would highly encourage anyone applauding this idea to do a quick Google for “Covid-19 herd immunity”. It’s the key to building up our immunity and defeating this virus until a vaccine is available. Medical experts will tell you what Costco is doing is counterintuitive (except when it comes to sick and elderly). COVID-19 isn’t going to kill or even get the majority of us sick. Exposure will help prevent future events, such as the fall when it will return.

    • Pam

      Which medical experts are you referring to? The CDC recommends wearing cloth face masks in public. The medical grade masks would obviously be better, but are needed for first responders.

      • Doug

        Again, Google “COVID-19 Herd Immunity” and you will see numerous medical experts. Wall Street Journal had a great piece, but you have to be a subscriber to read.

        And the CDC contradicts themselves constantly…remember they said previously not to wear masks. Unfortunately, they are influenced by politicians and corporations and do as they are told.

        • Mary

          Agree with you, Doug!! Thankfully some of us don’t just blindly follow along and do as we are told. I am worried that so many people can’t think and reason for themselves any more.

        • john908

          It’s okay Doug. Cloth masks are pretty much useless. It’s like when employers used to tell their workers that a paper dust mask would protect them from asbestos. This gives the sense of security while developing more exposures.

    • ann

      The UK started to try that approach and you see they quickly changed course after they realized that in todays society that is not the way to go.

  43. karengonzalez-warren

    I will now be buying a costco membership because of this, I am healthy but my daughter had open heart surgery and has asthma, my son also is asthmatic so I been wearing for them, it is not always about “me” is about the next person too.

    • J

      Sam’s Club is already implementing this policy as well. You might also want to look into getting a membership at Sam’s Club. They offer shop online and pick up in-store at no extra charge.

  44. Yia M.

    What’s the deal with the folks yelling herd immunity? I hope they realize that herd immunity inherently means death for potentially millions of Americans. The UK reversed course because they figured that the cost in lives would be too great. And let’s be clear, not everyone knows they have an underlying issue and not everyone that is “healthy” survives Covid-19.

    • Doug

      No it doesn’t. Herd immunity actually saves lives. Research measles.

      • ann

        What? My friends work in the medical field. Vacines are one thing, what you are suggesting is incorrect. They have told me maybe you misunderstood something you read.

  45. Andrea

    First of all, thank you to Hip2Save for posting the information on the new policy. Next, I want to add this link about herd immunity as several people have erroneously used it as their argument for not wearing masks. https://www.healthline.com/health/herd-immunity#takeaway
    If you read all the way through and to the bottom of the article, it explains that herd immunity works for some infectious diseases but not all especially COVID. So “immunology 101” does not work well with COVID so maybe those touting it should go back and really learn about immunology. It only works really well with vaccinations. There is currently no vaccination available so herd immunity will not apply. In addition, scientists and the medical community do not know how long someone who has had COVID actually has immunity from it before they can recatch it. Also, not only people with underlying conditions or the elderly are dying from this. Please explain to the families of teenagers or small children why theirs did then. While most people have mild symptoms or none at all and recover just fine. Some healthy people have caught and ended up having organ damage from it.
    As others have thankfully stated, you are free to not shop at Costco if you don’t like their policy. Costco and other stores have store policies that you already abide by, why complain about this one. While you may be uncomfortable in the store for a while, is it REALLY that big a deal to wear one??? We here in CA have been wearing masks in public for some time and no one has had their life ruined by it. I just don’t understand the selfish of others who aren’t willing to go an extra step to help their fellow human. As someone who has a child with asthma and a parent living with them that has chronic serious conditions, I ask everyone to put aside their “FREEDOM,” and do what is right by others and not just think of yourself. My family has not left the house in 2 months except to walk around our neighborhood. We have our groceries and goods delivered. We have to wipe down every single item before it comes in our home including mail because we can’t take chances. I would like to have my family members around for as long as possible. If my husband or I were to catch it, most likely my son and parent would as well which could have devastating consequences. For those of you who don’t have have to worry about that and are perfectly healthy, you can still have COVID and be a carrier. When you go to a store, you have no idea what other shoppers’ and store workers’ circumstances are within their own homes and how they may have no choice but to go into stores for their work or shopping for their loved ones. Please, please, please think of others and how you would want to be treated. You never know when one day you may develop a serious condition that requires you to be extra vigilant, and wouldn’t you want others around you to be careful and thoughtful for your sake??? I love my freedom just as much as the next person but I love my family more. Everyone please be kind and have a great day!

    • frugal lady2

      Thank you Andrea. I’m a healthcare worker and I appreciate this comments you’ve posted. Everyone, please be kind to one another and be safe! We are still in crisis so please let’s help each other out!

    • ann

      Thank you Andrea…and people don’t seem to know young otherwise healthy people ARE sometimes getting sick and dying from this.

  46. Kinjal Patel

    I have started working for costco for only less then year and trust me I am so so PROUD to work for such company that cares so much about their employees and members. We are hiring so many temporary people to replace regular employees to take break from stress and fear.its really hard to work in situation where you are not sure what comes home to your family. Costco has been doing terrific work to sanitizing starting from carts to credit card reader.well I do see mostly everyone now days wearing masks but then I also see some coughing and touching things with bare hands and no masks.costco is doing everything possible to keep us safe and their members as well.

  47. Kandyce

    If you dont want to wear a mask then stay at home. Nobody is forcing you to do anything. Because you sound like idiots arguing about nothing. Thats it. Periodt!!!

    • ann

      Thank you so much. If only we could make them do that… Those are the people you have to protect from themselves (like you would a child…don’t touch that it will hurt you…) sigh…

    • Lenardh

      Are are all for quarantine too? Because by your logic, if you’re scared of the virus- stay home! Let the rest of us live our life without fear! No one will force you out of your house if you don’t want to leave….

      • Kandyce

        Go ahead live fearless and die. Good luck 🤣🤣

        • Selah

          Yeah, Lenard! Good luck with that 98% survival rate, you silly.

  48. Nancy

    I bet many of you who are against this, are for mandatory vaccinations. It’s the same thing, it’s about protecting others. Quit being selfish. It may not make you critically ill, but you may spread it to someone who could potentially die.

    • Sparrowfly

      I don’t know where I would buy one for myself….let alone my children.

  49. woopdee

    “Don’t believe what you read on the internet! Instead look at this website…”

  50. Debbie H.

    Our NYS (hardest hit state in the nation) Gov. Andrew Cuomo stated last week, “Everyone was wrong about everything.”

    You should not want to curtail the actions of others. If you want to stay inside, nobody is forcing you outside. If you want to wear a mask do so. If you don’t want to wear one, don’t You don’t know other peoples’ circumstances. Respect their individual choice & stop trying to control others. The power you give the state to harass others will turn on you.

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