Stores cracking down on social distancing

A lot of large stores just announced new changes to policies regarding social distancing and shopping. (These changes might not appear in all stores but could be rolled out on a gradual basis.)

Either way, they could significantly change the shopping experience so you’ll want to get a heads up before you head out.

Walmart stated that they will allow no more than five customers for each 1000 ft.² in their stores. This will be roughly 20% of the stores capacity. 

The store is also going to have designated entrance and exit doors in each store so that customers will only have one option for getting in and a separate option for getting out.

Social distancing will be implemented while customers wait in line and when a store has reached capacity, customers will only be admitted on a one to one basis as fellow customers exit. (There are many reports of social distancing not being enforced in these waiting lines so pay attention to those.) 

Another measure that they are taking is having designated one-way aisles so that shoppers can keep their distance from each other easier and not cross paths by shopping down two way aisles.

Infrared thermometers will be used to keep sick employees from working. If they have a fever of 100° or more they will not be allowed in the store until they have shown no fever for at least three days. 

Walmart also wants families to start limiting the number of people that they bring into the store. Ideally, you would only go shopping with one or two people from a family (total). They definitely do not want you to bring along your entire family with you to the store at this time.

Target and Costco are also both limiting the number of shoppers in their stores and implementing additional policies for social distancing.

Here are some changes to be on the lookout for at the stores above and also your local grocery stores:

• Employees wearing masks and gloves
• Requirements to wear masks for customers
• Sneeze guards for the cashiers
• Not accepting exchanges or refunds
• Only allowing purchase of essential items
• Limited store hours
• Aisles might be rearranged 
• Limited check out lines

Over the next four or five weeks, it is estimated that the majority of the country is going to peak in terms of its coronavirus infections. As we see the total number of cases and deaths tolls take exponential leaps, it’s possible that some restrictions will get even more strict so just be prepared for these things to evolve as things become more severe in certain communities.

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