Costco to require shoppers to wear masks starting Monday

COEUR d’ALENE — Starting Monday, all Costco Wholesale stores, including the Coeur d'Alene location, will require members and guests to wear face masks or coverings that cover the mouth and nose at all times.

Costco's requirement does not apply to children younger than 2, or to individuals unable to wear face coverings because of medical conditions.

Employees are already required to wear masks while at work.

“We’re firmly committed to protecting the health and welfare of everyone who walks into our facility," said Coeur d'Alene Costco General Manager Stephanie Suko on Wednesday. "We’re closely monitoring the changing situation."

The retailer posted the requirement on its website, adding that "the use of a mask or face covering should not be seen as a substitute for social distancing." Shoppers are expected to continue to observe rules regarding appropriate distancing while on Costco premises.

The Costco face covering requirement comes more than a week after Idaho Gov. Brad Little's announcement that Idaho will be re-opening in stages starting Friday. Little's amended statewide stay-home order, updated April 15, encourages Idahoans to "wear protective face coverings in public places and gloves as necessary."

Other stores, like Fred Meyer, are encouraging customers to wear masks when they visit its stores. Its staff does wear masks.

Other Kootenai County grocery stores, including Safeway, Super 1, Winco and Albertsons, are not requiring customers to wear masks, but their staff also does.

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, and especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

Craig Jelinek president and CEO, Costco Wholesale, said the changes Costco has made to its business include: limits in locations on the number of members; social distancing in lines; enhanced sanitation; limited services in certain businesses; modified weekday hours; plexiglass shields at checkstands; and special hours for seniors and high-risk groups.

“The issues presented by this crisis are new to all of us, and we at Costco don’t pretend to have all the answers. We are not perfect,” Jelinek said in a statement. “But every step of the way, we’ve done our best to take care of our employees, take care of our members and support our communities. And we will continue to do so.”