Starting this Monday, Hy-Vee will give away 3 million masks at every location. Health experts say widespread mask use is the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Although mask-wearing is encouraged in its stores across the Midwest, Hy-Vee does not require customers to wear masks.
Senior Vice President of communications Tina Potthoff said the company doesn’t want to put its employees in a position where they have to question customers who are unable to wear masks due to health issues.
"It’s very difficult for any retailer to enforce or police the wearing of masks by every single customer, because everyone is in a different situation," Potthoff said. "And we also don’t really want to put our employees in a highly confrontational situation with customers that are very emotional about the issue."
There will be a greeter at each location handing out masks to those who want one and aren’t already wearing one.
Other large grocery chains, including Walmart, Target and Bakers, do require customers to wear masks.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department now mandates face coverings in public.