Across the nation, stores like Costco and Menards are making the right choice by requiring shoppers to wear a mask or some level of personal protective equipment, PPE for short, in hopes of helping to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Essential businesses such as grocery stores are at high risk for COVID-19 transmission.

On April 3, 2020 the Center for Disease Control, CDC, issued a statement that they recommended face coverings when out in public and it is hard to social distance, and especially in areas of significant community. Such as stores and public transportation, because they are areas that can carry an increased risk of infection for the people that use them. In their statement the CDC said that they recommended masks because the virus can be spread by people who are asymptomatic through coughing and sneezing; and a cloth mask is able to catch most of the virus as it exits the body, making it safer for others. 

Almost a month after the statement made by the CDC, Costco Wholesale issued a statement saying that effective May 4, 2020 employees and shoppers are required to wear a mask, this does not apply to children under the age of two, and to those who can’t due to a medical condition. Costco made this decision based upon their want to keep essential workers safe and to help follow the suggestions made by the CDC. 

However, even with recommendations made by the CDC, and their want to keep the employees safe, shoppers are wrongfully outraged by their decision. Many of these protesters are taking to Twitter under the hashtag “#boycottCostco”. These protesters are saying that requiring shoppers to wear a mask is a violation of their rights and that it should be their choice. While the protesters do have a right to have their own opinions, their opinion can cause them or the people around them to get infected. 

Those who don’t wear a mask are putting their own happiness over the health and safety of others, by not wanting to wear a mask they are making a conscious decision to realize they are going to put others in harm’s way.