- Starting May 4, Costco shoppers will be required to wear face coverings in stores.
- After the announcement of the new policy, angry Costco shoppers voiced their frustrations on social media, some calling for a boycott of the warehouse chain.
- Some view the policy as an annoyance, saying that masks are not proven to help prevent the spread of the virus.
- The CDC recommends that people wear face coverings in public settings to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
- “We know some members may find this inconvenient or objectionable, but under the circumstances we believe the added safety is worth any inconvenience,” Costco CEO Craig Jelinek wrote in a public message on the company’s website.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Costco will soon require shoppers to wear masks in its stores. And some members of the warehouse chain are not pleased with the policy change.
“Adios #Costco! Won’t be renewing my membership!” a Twitter user said on Tuesday in response to the new policy. “I REFUSE to mask up for the low IQ mob that’s falling for the propaganda, not to mention the health risks by restricting oxygen!”
https://twitter.com/talialikeitis/status/1255256406443405312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The user was one of many who expressed frustration on social media over Costco’s new policy. Some called for a boycott of the warehouse chain, and many took issue with the policy because it promotes a safety measure that they view as ineffective and an infringement of their rights.
The policy, which is effective May 4 in all Costco stores, says "all Costco members and guests must wear a face covering that covers their mouth and nose at all times while at Costco" and excludes children under 2 years old and people whose medical conditions do not allow for them to wear such coverings.
In response to a request for comment, a Costco spokesperson directed Business Insider to a public message on the company's website from CEO Craig Jelinek.
"We know some members may find this inconvenient or objectionable, but under the circumstances we believe the added safety is worth any inconvenience," Jelinek wrote. "This is not simply a matter of personal choice; a face covering protects not just the wearer, but others too."
Costco's new policy is in-line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, which advise that people wear face coverings in public settings to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Some shoppers posted about being against the policy because they claimed it was ineffective or promoting fear-mongering
Why is Costco mandating masks? Has anyone told them cloth masks are 0% effective against viruses?!! Americans are obsessed with a false sense of security pic.twitter.com/y6EHRsgiRg
— Jessie Ree (@greekgoddess232) April 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/sshale85/status/1255269459004137474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
And some people seemed to take issue with being told what to do
https://twitter.com/K_S_Christmas/status/1255563057004240900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/TinaBug23/status/1255904805974757376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
As of May 4th I will no longer be shopping at #Costco you can not force me to wear a mask. My face my choice!
— john soden (@Joja77) April 28, 2020
Other people called for a boycott of the chain
https://twitter.com/syost41/status/1256021920903913473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#boycottcostco - I Will be getting a refund for the remainder of my Costco membership. I suggest everyone do the same. Know your constitutional rights!
— stargazer (@stargazer2123) April 30, 2020
Despite the backlash, there were some people who expressed their support for the new policy
https://twitter.com/RockyMountViews/status/1255597903512432640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
And some tweets seemed to poke fun at the people boycotting the chain