April 5, 2020

COVID-19 forces changes to Texas grocery stores soon

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, it just keeps chippin' away at what was once a routine errand.

The way we once bought groceries is a thing of the past. Grocery stores are making big changes to protect their employees and customers.

Walmart, Tom Thumb, Kroger, and Albertsons will be installing plexiglass sneeze guards at their registers in the next few weeks.

Walmart recently shipped infrared thermometers to all their stores, which will soon start taking all employees' temperatures when they report to work. Stores will only allow people with a fever of 100 or higher back once they have been fever-free for at least three days.

Starting Saturday, Walmart will be limiting the number of shoppers for each store. No more than 5 customers in a store for every 1,000 square feet inside.

One-way aisles along with one designated entrance and exit will be implemented.

Walmart is also asking families to limit the number of people they bring with them to stores.

Also starting Saturday, there will be a limited number of people allowed in each Target store based on how large that particular building is. There will also be no in-store returns or exchanges for at least the next three weeks to reduce the number of items employees are touching.

Target will also be giving masks and gloves to all of its employees to wear.

Similar to Target, Costco is trying to reduce the number of people inside its stores. Starting Friday, no more than two customers per membership will be allowed to go into the store. They have already started limiting the number of people allowed to enter the store at one time to 50-per-group in order to prevent a massive crush of panicked customers all rushing for toilet paper.