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Coronavirus Victoria: Kmart, Bunnings set to ban shoppers without masks

Major retailers will require shoppers in Victorian coronavirus hotspots to wear masks or be refused entry into stores as facial coverings become mandatory outside the home.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday anyone leaving the house in Mitchell Shire and Metro Melbourne will have to cover their mouth with a face mask or bandana from 11.59pm AEST on Wednesday.

Failure to do so could result in a $200 fine.

Bunnings Warehouse signage is displayed outside a Melbourne store.
Bunnings Warehouse will ask shoppers to wear masks before entering. Source: Getty Images, file

Bunnings general operations manager Ryan Baker told Yahoo News Australia in a statement shoppers heading to stores in Mitchell Shire and metro Melbourne would be required to wear a mask.

“Following the Victorian government’s advice on Friday, we now require that all team members in our Victorian stores, distribution centres and trade centres wear face masks,” Mr Baker said.

“And from Thursday we will require that customers and suppliers wear a face mask or covering as a condition of entry to a Bunnings store or trade centre in metropolitan Melbourne or the Mitchell Shire.

“This aligns with the requirements announced by the Victorian government on Sunday.”

A woman wearing a face mask walks through the city in Melbourne, Australia.
A mask-wearing woman walks through Melbourne's CBD. Source: Getty Images

Shoppers at Kmart, Target, Officeworks, David Jones and the Country Road Group will also need to wear masks, according to The Age.

Dr Sandro Demaio, the CEO of VicHealth, backed this report on Twitter on Tuesday morning, telling Melbourne to “mask up”.

Woolworths won’t refuse service to customers without masks

However, Woolworths will not be enforcing the new rule.

“We strongly encourage customers to wear masks when shopping in our stores in line with the Victorian Government’s health guidance,” a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.

A man wears a face mask as a preventative measure against coronavirus at a checkout in a Woolworths supermarket in Coburg, Melbourne.
A shopper wears a mask in Coburg, Melbourne. Source: AAP

“However, we won’t refuse service if a customer is not wearing a mask because there are a range of personal circumstances where masks aren’t recommended.

“We continue to closely monitor and follow the Victorian Government’s latest health advice.”

But Woolworths staff in Mitchell Shire and metro Melbourne will be required to wear masks.

Coles told The Age it doesn’t plan on enforcing the rule in supermarkets either, but, like Woolworths, staff would have to wear them.

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