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Walmart has shortened store hours again, set purchase limits on certain items, and added a weekly senior-only shopping event due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Stores will now be open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. local time to give employees more time to clean and sanitize. Stores that open later than 7 a.m. will continue their regular starting hours. While the store hours have changed for customers, employees will still have access to their regular scheduled shifts and full hours, the company stated in a news release.
Purchase limits have been set in certain categories, including paper products, milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food.
Because older customers could be more vulnerable to the coronavirus, stores will host an hour-long senior shopping event for people aged 60 and older every Tuesday beginning March 24 and lasting through April 28. This will start one hour before stores open, and will include pharmacies and vision centers.
The company has temporarily shut down its automotive centers and will move those employees into new roles to help stock and clean the stores.
Walmart vision centers will operate on their normal schedules, but will only provide essential services only such as glasses repair and helping customers pick up existing orders. Officials said there will be at least one associate available at each vision center, but other vision center employees will shift to work in other parts of the stores.
