Colorado Springs shoppers concerned some essential workers are not wearing masks

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - We decided to see how many supermarket workers are wearing face masks. This comes after Governor Polis and the CDC recommended everyone wear a mask if you're out in public and around people.

After our report last week showing many supermarket shoppers are not wearing masks in Colorado Springs, we got dozens of phone calls and emails asking us to investigate if essential workers are wearing protective gear.

In regards to stores here in Colorado -- Safeway, Whole Foods and Sprouts told KRDO they now require employees to wear a face mask at work.

King Soopers, Walmart, Target and Costco told us it's optional, but encouraged at their stores.

KRDO crews were out surveying the scene inside several Colorado Springs supermarkets Monday where employees are allowed to choose whether they want to wear face masks.

KRDO reporter Julia Donovan walked down each aisle and tallied every worker she saw.

She found that -- out of the workers she saw with her own two eyes -- 41 percent wore a face mask, and 59 percent did not.

It's still legal for essential employees to work without a mask here in Colorado.

Officials in the city of Los Angeles and multiple nearby counties in California have mandated everyone wear a mask when leaving their home.

Official with El Paso County Public Health say they don't think it's necessary to make any order requiring everyone, or just essential workers, to wear a mask right now.

"That sort of order needs to be made in a way that considers the needs of individual businesses and organizations, as well as the supply chains ability to accommodate such an order," said Ryan Parsell, a spokesperson for the county.