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According to a company release, face masks worn during the COVID-19 pandemic will be officially available at some In-N-Out Burger locations in five states.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration declared that the United States was not officially under the COVID-19 emergency for the first time since the pandemic began three years ago.
The popular West Coast burger chain released an internal memo last week notifying employees in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah of an update to the mask policy “to show our employees’ smiles and other facial features while also promoting the… health and well-being of all”. individuals.”
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In-N-Out Burgers in Las Vegas.
The memo, obtained by a Scottsdale, Arizona-based employee, read to ABC News: “No masks may be worn in the store or support facility unless an employee has a valid medical certificate, which relieves him or her of that requirement.”
Employees who wear a face mask for medical reasons are required by In-N-Out to “wear a company-supplied N-95 mask,” the memo said. “Any other type of mask may only be worn if there is a valid medical certificate exempting the employee from the N-95 mask requirement.”
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There are also exceptions to the policy for employees “who are required to wear masks or other protective equipment as part of their job duties (e.g., patty-chamber employees, lab technicians, painters, etc.).”
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An In-N-Out burger restaurant stands in Fort Worth, Texas on October 24, 2016.
According to the memo, employees who fail to comply with the updated policy may face “appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, based on the seriousness and frequency of the violation.”
In-N-Out did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
The company plans to “review this periodically to ensure its effectiveness and compliance with evolving health guidelines,” the memo said.
The regulation will come into force on August 14, the memo says.