(The Canadian Press/Larry MacDougal)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

more masking up

Masks mandatory in all Superstore, No Frills locations starting Aug. 29

Aug 23, 2020 | 10:39 AM

Starting August 29, customers and staff will be required to wear a mask or other face covering while in any No Frills or Real Canadian Superstore location.

Those brands’ parent company, Loblaws, announced the decision on their social media pages Saturday.

“We appreciate your support as we work together to stop the spread of COVID-19,” the company says on Facebook.

The move comes after Walmart Canada implemented mandatory masking effective August 12. Winners, Homesense and Marshall’s — owned by TJX Canada — implemented mandatory masks August 17.

Loblaws, which also owns Shoppers Drug Mart, Fortinos, T&T and Independent, has not made any announcement regarding mandatory masking for customers at those stores.

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Staff have been required to wear masks at many Loblaws-operated locations across the country for some time now, though not at any central Alberta locations.

There is a Real Canadian Superstore in Red Deer, and No Frills locations in Sylvan Lake, Lacombe, Innisfail, Olds, Ponoka and Stettler.

As of Aug. 23, there are three recently confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Loblaws locations in Alberta, including one each in Edmonton, St. Albert and Calgary.

Loblaws also announced last week that it would begin offering asymptomatic testing at all Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaw pharmacies in Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Independent, Extra Foods and City Market locations starting September 1.

“Based on the Alberta pilot, Canada could increase its testing capabilities by tens of thousands of patients each day by introducing this service in more markets,” a news release from the company states.

Shoppers Executive Vice President Ashesh Desai added that the company wants to do more to be part of the solution.