The Amazon-owned company is also providing guests with free single-use masks in all stores beginning this week to support the chain's "request" that all customers wear a mask while visiting their stores.
"In addition to requiring everyone working in our stores to wear face masks, over the next week we will begin requesting that all customers wear masks while shopping in our stores," a spokesperson for the chain said via email.
"Whole Foods Market will be providing face masks at the entrance of all stores for customers who do not have their own face coverings."
In a blog post, Amazon reiterated, "To help protect the safety and health of our Team Members and communities, we will be requesting customers wear masks in Whole Foods Market stores. Within the next week, we will be offering free, disposable masks to all Whole Foods Market customers nationwide when they arrive at the store to shop. If customers don't already have their own face covering, they will be able to pick up a mask at the entrance of the Whole Foods Market store."
This makes sense--so, why are people up in arms? The leader of the ReOpen NC movement called for a boycott on Facebook as well. “They are within their rights to do this, but we are within our rights to shop elsewhere,” Ashley Smith’s post said.
So--what do you think? Are these mask policies what's best for all citizens?