Fred Meyer and Safeway are joining Walmart in requiring all customers to wear face masks starting next week.
Safeway’s policy goes into effect on next Tuesday and Fred Meyer’s next Wednesday, while Walmart’s goes into effect on Monday. Fred Meyer says small children and people who medically cannot wear a mask will be exempt and are encouraged to consider alternatives, like a face shield, and if not, requested to use curbside pickup or delivery. All three companies say they are doing so to protect communities and help slow the spread of coronavirus, which is rapidly spreading in many regions of the country.
There were eleven new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in peninsula residents yesterday, including four in Soldotna, three in Kenai, and one each in Nikiski, Sterling, Seward, and an unspecified community on the southern peninsula. The peninsula cases were among 65 resident cases statewide, in addition to 10 nonresident cases, including one on the southern peninsula. Statewide, there have been 1,693 resident cases, 96 hospitalizations and 17 deaths.
Reach Elizabeth Earl at eearl@kdll.org.
