Dacona Smith, the COO of Walmart U.S., and Sam’s Club COO Lance de la Rosa said in a company blog post last week that the policy will "bring consistency across stores and clubs" as 65 percent of Walmart and Sam's Club stores are located in areas where some form of government mandate on face coverings has already been established.

"We know some people have differing opinions on this topic. We also recognize the role we can play to help protect the health and well-being of the communities we serve by following the evolving guidance of health officials like the CDC," the company blog post read. "We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our customers and members in wearing face coverings to protect their safety and the safety of our associates."

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