Amazon, Walmart drop mask requirements for vaccinated employees

Private sector companies like Amazon and Walmart are following suit with what some state governors are doing by removing mask requirements. However, there’s still a case-by-case treatment of the matter when it comes to company policies.

In regards to specifics about the change in outlook from the retail giants:

Amazon says fully vaccinated staff no longer have to wear masks, per MarketWatch. "There has been a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases across the country over the past weeks," the outlet said, citing a company memo.

The Washington Post says that Walmart will still require masks for employees in "clinical care settings" like their pharmacy areas. Meanwhile, unvaccinated employees in general will still have to wear masks, otherwise.

As for Big Banks making moves and relaxing restrictions, New York Stock Exchange and several large banks such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley all seemingly withdrew their mask mandates in unison last Friday. But Morgan Stanley doesn't allow unvaccinated employees "into their buildings," whereas JPMorgan's route seems to be continuing contact tracing and routine testing of unvaccinated staff where they believe necessary.

This new trend comes as a result of policy changes from state leaders.

Gov. Kathy Hochul recently lifted mask mandates for New York except in classrooms, but that had a court battle of its own coming with it.

When Gov. Glenn Youngkin motioned to make school mask mandates optional via executive order, he faced legal backlash from school boards in what turned out to be a debate about prioritization of emergency powers.

New Jersey took the stance of removing the statewide mask mandate for schools in particular. California removed indoor mask mandates but kept it for students. In that case, officials doubled down on the mask requirement for students despite celebrities on display without masks during this Sunday's Super Bowl.

Washington, DC's Mayor Bowser on Monday backtracked on her previous mandate for proof of vaccination and mask mandates. What went into effect as recently as Jan. 15 of this year is now set to be phased out by the beginning of March.

Again, it's except for public school students.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier in the month that the Biden administration's position is that children ought to mask up in the classroom.

Much like how some states are removing the indoor mask requirements, officials have also decided to keep masks on kids in schools. But not in Nevada. Children cheered when learning they could finally take their masks off.

The issue of masking has reached a recent boiling point with American youths for at least one Chicago high school where a walkout was staged protesting the matter.