Restaurant workers and others in the food industry have faced extra risk amid the coronavirus pandemic.
CEO Emily Williams Knight said that they are doing their best to make sure member restaurants are following best safety practices and communicating expectations with customers.
"You've learned a lot about interacting with your guests and you learned a lot about what makes guests feel safe, so today is not a day to throw out all of those protocols and go back to life on March 1," said Knight on Tuesday, ."Each of these restaurants needs to be really thoughtful and have a discussion with their employees and guests about interacting as they move forward."
Mask mandates do not mean that stores and restaurants can't enact their own policies. Several chains, including, Target and Macys, said that they will continue to enforce mask-wearing policies in their stores. "To ensure the continued safety of our customers and associates, The Kroger Family of Companies will continue to require everyone in our stores across the country to wear masks until all our frontline grocery associates can receive the COVID-19 vaccine," said the company in a statement to TODAY Food