No mask, no entry: Major retail chains set to ban shoppers

Major retailer chains in Victoria’s coronavirus hot spots have ordered shoppers to wear face masks, or be refused entry into stores.

Bunnings staff in lockdown suburbs have already been ordered to wear face masks during their shifts – and now shoppers will be required to do the same or cop a ban.

It comes after facial coverings in the state became mandatory outside the home following Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement on Sunday.

He said anyone leaving the house in Mitchell Shire and Metro Melbourne will have to cover their mouth with a face mask or bandana – as of 11.59pm AEST on Wednesday — and failure to do so could result in a $200 fine.

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Bunnings shoppers in Victoria’s coronavirus hot spots will be required to wear face masks as of Thursday, July 23. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Bunnings workers in Melbourne will be handed face masks before each shift. Picture: 9 News

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“Following the Victorian government’s advice on Friday, we now require that all team members in our Victorian stores, distribution centres and trade centres wear face masks,” Bunnings general operations manager Ryan Baker told news.com.au in a statement.

“And from Thursday we will require that customers and suppliers wear a face mask or covering as a condition of entry to a Bunnings store or trade centre in metropolitan Melbourne or the Mitchell Shire.”

He said the protocol aligns with the requirements announced by the Victorian government on Sunday.

Kmart is following suit with the company confirming customers will be refused entry if they do not comply by wearing a face mask.

“If you identify with one of the government exceptions where masks are not required you can still shop with us in store while following physical distancing practices,” a Kmart spokesperson told news.com.au

Kmart shoppers will also be refused entry if they don’t wear a face mask. Picture: John Grainger

“We hope our community and customers remain safe as we unite and move through the next phase of Government restrictions.

“As always, our focus continues to be the health and wellbeing of our customers and team members while providing a service that offers accessibility to everyday products.”

The spokesperson said Kmart staff will remind customers from Thursday who are not wearing a face covering to do so before shopping with them.

“However we understand there are exceptions such as everyone aged 12 years and under or medical reasons.”

Face masks will now be mandatory in Victoria’s worst hit coronavirus areas, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Australia’s major supermarket chain Woolworths shares the same position with a spokesperson telling news.com.au “if a customer doesn’t have a medical reason and they’re over 12 years of age, they will be asked not to enter the store”.

“From tomorrow (Thursday), we expect customers entering our stores in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire to wear a face-covering as per the Victorian Government’s directive,” the spokesperson said.

“This policy has been agreed upon through the Supermarket Taskforce and is consistent with other major retailers.”

Woolworths staff in Mitchell Shire and metro Melbourne will also be required to wear masks.

It is not mandatory in all of Victoria, only the hotspot areas, and those who fail to comply will be hit with a $200 fine. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AAP

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Target, Officeworks, David Jones and Myer will follow the same protocol, according to The Age.

Electronics and furniture chain Harvey Norman has taken an even stronger stance by enforcing face masks to be worn by staff and shoppers across all its Victorian stores.

Exceptions will be made for shoppers with medical issues or children under 12, the publication reports.

Coles told The Age it doesn’t plan on enforcing the rule in supermarkets either, but, like Woolworths, staff would have to wear them.

Woolworths requires its customers to wear masks or be refused entry. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Meanwhile, McDonald’s employees working at restaurants in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire were told they too had to wear face masks.

“In line with the recommendation from the Victorian Government, and out of an abundance of caution, we now require employees to wear face masks during any shift at our restaurants in the Melbourne metropolitan and Mitchell Shire areas,” a McDonald’s spokesman told news.com.au.

Staff at McDonald's restaurants in lockdown suburbs will now be required to wear face masks.

Andrew Gregory, CEO of McDonald's: "We have around 20,000 employees in that geographic area. Yesterday, all of our employees commenced wearing masks."

— 3AW Breakfast (@RossAndJohn) July 13, 2020

“At these restaurants, in accordance with level three lockdown requirements, we are currently only offering contactless takeaway, drive-through and McDelivery services.”

There are just over 190 restaurants in both those locations.

As of July 21, the total number of coronavirus cases in Victoria is 6289 with 374 new cases since Sunday.