Lowe's store in downtown Richmond, Virginia is allowing customers to shop without wearing masks even though Richmond Covid-19 infections rate has grown tenfold in the last two weeks.  

This is what happened to me yesterday at that store: Upon entering the store, I noticed that a large number of people were entering the stores without masks and that no one said a word to them.  In fact, they were served without any questions.  As I was looking up some hardware I needed, a very large man without a mask barreled down toward me and stopped  about one foot from me.  When I stepped back and asked him to please be mindful of social distancing, he accosted me with usual vulgar epithets reserved for women which I will not repeat here. I stepped away, not wanting to prolong the confrontation.   An employee whose mask was hanging below his nose, stared blankly and did nothing.  I asked for general manager who eventually came out.  He was absolutely polite and agreed with me but told me that he was powerless to change the corporate policy.  He showed me Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison’s letter explaining the corporate policy of non-confrontation and non- enforcement.  As I spoke to him, an employee wandered around without a mask.  

As I (used to) shop there often, I have witnessed both employees and the security guard holding or restraining shoplifters or people who came in inebriated or without shoes/shirt.  I pointed that our to the manager who did not have anything to say in response except mutter about national corporate policy.  We have a mask mandate in Virginia.  Big corporate giants who are getting our local $$ should at least take some responsibility for public health.