Beginning July 20, Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, becomes the latest national chain to require all customers to wear masks.

Walmart has two supercenters in Jackson – 2196 Emporium Drive, and 2171 South Highland Avenue.

“As the number of confirmed cases has spiked in communities across the country recently, so too have the number and types of face covering mandates being implemented,” according to a news release from Walmart, Wednesday.

About 65% of its more than 5,000 stores, including its Sam’s Club locations, are located in areas where there is government mandate on face coverings.

Continuing, the press release said, “To help bring consistency across stores and clubs, we will require all shoppers to wear a face covering starting Monday, July 20. This will give us time to inform customers and members of the changes, post signage and train associates on the new protocols.”

Industry groups and unions have also stepped up their calls around mask requirements for customers.

Last week, the Retail Leaders Industry Association, an industry trade group, called on the nation’s governors to pass statewide mandates requiring citizens to wear masks in public. The United Food and Commercial Workers’ Union also urged government officials and business leaders to require masks for customers in an advertisement over the weekend.

Starbucks said last week that it will require customers to wear facial coverings or masks in all 9,000 of its company-owned U.S. stores beginning Wednesday.

Best Buy announced Tuesday that it will also require all shoppers coming into its approximately 1,000 stores to wear face masks. Costco began requiring its members to wear masks in stores beginning in May.