The company announced that it will require all members, guests and employees over the age of 2 to wear a face mask or face shield with no medical exemptions.
"Costco has had a face mask policy in effect since May 4, 2020, but members who could not wear a mask due to a medical condition were exempt. This is no longer the case," Jelinek wrote in a November 10th memo. "If a member has a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, they must wear a face shield at Costco."
"Children 3 and under are so hard to get to wear masks," wrote one Twitter user. "Whoever made this decision obviously doesn’t have a two year old," wrote another.
"You'll never see me again unless your company drops this policy," a user posted on the group "No Mask Omaha," as captured on Twitter:
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In his letter, Jelinek acknowledged that some customers may find the new policy a nuisance, but it is a necessary for public health nonetheless.
"This updated policy may seem inconvenient to some, however we believe the added safety is worth any inconvenience," he stated. "Our goal is to continue to provide a safe shopping environment for our members and guests, and to provide a safe work environment for our employees."