April 2020 Update to Walmart’s Store Operation Procedures to encourage social distancing.
Starting Saturday, April 4th, Walmart will limit the number of customers allowed into their stores. The number allowed will be no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time (around 20 percent of the store’s capacity.)
One side will be blocked off for entry and all customers will have to enter through the open side only (most often, that will be the Grocery/Market side). Most places are seeing people line up before opening. When the doors open and people are allowed in, once the store has hit max allowed capacity, they will operate on a “one in, one out” system. No one else will be admitted until someone else has exited.
Walmart sets up carts as a barrier to form a line queue area for customers waiting to enter the store as they restrict the number of shoppers allowed to be in the store. April 3, 2020. Picture may not be used without permission.
There will also be directions for one-way movement through the aisles using floor markers and direction from associates. And once customers check out, they will be directed to exit through a different door than they entered, which should help lessen the instances of people closely passing each other.
The statement also says: “We know that in ordinary times a store is a gathering place for members of a community to connect and socialize. We look forward to the time when that is again the case; however, we now want to prioritize health and safety by encouraging customers to do their shopping at a distance from others, then head home.”
So basically, don’t take the family shopping with you and have your list made the way your store is laid out so you can follow the flow through the store and not be zig-zagging around, allowing you to get in and out quickly.
Read the full news statement here.
Previous update on 3/19/20:
New policy effective March 19, 2020, Walmart U.S. stores will open at 7 am and close at 8:30 pm. Associates will still be working regular hours around the clock stocking and cleaning.
From March 24 to April 28, Walmart stores will have an hour long “Senior Shopping Event” every Tuesday starting one hour before opening (so, from 6 to 7 am) for customers 60 and older.
Walmart is also working on item limitations per customer to make sure shoppers have enough eggs, milk, cleaning products, water, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food.
Auto Care Centers will be temporarily shut down.
Find a complete list of stores closing and modified schedules here.
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