McDonald's Is Once Again Requiring All Customers Wear Masks In Some Locations

After two months of mask-free service, McDonald's has reissued a mask mandate for both customers and workers across their restaurants in areas of the United States that are experiencing a high or substantial surge in cases. This, CBS reports, is to fall into adherence with the guidelines the CDC recently updated in the face of the surge due to the Delta Variant — nearly 80% of U.S. counties. Other companies, like Walmart and Target, have mandated the wearing of masks for their workers but only have issued an encouragement for their customers.

Reuters reported that McDonald's has always had mask mandates for those who have not been vaccinated. The mandates have been a contentious issue and the workers were likely to risk insult or injury by asking each customer if they had been vaccinated. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) welcomed the new guidelines, stating that they had raised complaints about how the loosened policies placed their policing onto the shoulders of workers. But they also believe a nationwide mask mandate is necessary.

How many McDonald's are actually affected?

Since McDonald's has fallen short of the UFCW's proposed extension of the mandate to all, the new mask rules may not be implemented in your local restaurant. That said, it is pretty likely that it will be.

CDC data shows that 60.87 percent of all American counties have shown a high transmission in cases and a substantial transmission is present in 18.91 percent of counties. Both of these show an increase from last week's caseload and together make up almost four-fifths of the United States.

Talking on "Face the Nation," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the president, explained the rise was due to both the number of people who have refused vaccinations and how the vaccine can transmit through a vaccinated person, even though they do not display symptoms. The ability to spread without feeling sick is the reason why the CDC has urged businesses like McDonald's to require their customers to wear a mask when in the restaurants.