Jewel Osco asks employees, vendors to mask up in stores

Jewel Osco Photo credit Getty Images

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A major grocery store chain is asking its employees to put masks back on.

Citing high COVID transmission rates and public health guidance from state and federal governments, a Jewel-Osco spokeswoman says the grocery chain is “requesting” that employees wear masks inside stores.

The directive also applies to vendors but not customers.

Fifteen counties in the state – including most of Northeastern Illinois — are at high community level for the novel coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determines level based on COVID hospital admissions, beds taken by COVID patients and the rate of new cases.