Kroger to require employees to wear masks, CEO says

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said this week that the grocery chain would require all employees to wear face masks while working to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in its stores.

McMullen said in an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Wednesday that the policy would go into effect later this week. The company previously required employees only in “hot spots” to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

“In our hot spot divisions we require our employees to wear face masks … and gloves. Later this week we will move that to require all associates to wear face masks, as well,” McMullen said.

.@kroger CEO Rodney McMullen tells @michaelstrahan it will require every associate to “wear face masks” later this week. pic.twitter.com/asZwyKwH2i

— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 22, 2020

McMullen also addressed supply chain issues in his interview, telling “Good Morning America” hosts that essential items such as paper towels and toilet paper would be restocked within days as grocers resolve supply issues.

“I think within a week or so, you’ll be able to find it anywhere,” he said of toilet paper shortages specifically.

Many localities including Washington, D.C., already require residents to don face masks before entering grocery stores, and many chains, including Kroger, have also limited the number of customers who may shop at any one time.

Grocery stores have been declared essential businesses and allowed to remain open around the country even as many restaurants that do not offer drive-thru or carry-out operations have been forced to close.