Fred Meyer, Home Depot, Target among stores still requiring masks

PORTLAND, Ore. – As the CDC issues new guidance saying people who are fully-vaccinated no longer have to wear masks in most indoor settings, some businesses are still requiring customers to mask-up and social distance in their stores.

Fred Meyer’s parent company, Kroger, said it will still require all shoppers to wear a face mask and practice social distancing while they review the CDC’s latest guidance.

In addition, the company said it will be offering a one-time payment of $100 for associates who have been vaccinated or plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Several other major chains, including Target, Home Depot, Macy's and Starbucks, and countless local business owners also made the decision to keep mask-wearing and physical distance policies in place.

While many employees are still wearing masks, the president of Oregon Business & Industry said this new guidance will give employees a new incentive to get vaccinated.

"People who are working inside, on machinery, janitors, and people, the cooks in the kitchen, if they can show they’re vaccinated, and we want all Oregonians to get vaccinated, if they can show, they can take their masks off, and it won’t be hot, they won’t have those fogged up glasses, and we’ll start seeing the end of this pandemic that’s been so hard on everybody," said Sandra McDonough, OBI president.