Bentonville, AR – “To promote health, safety and consistency for our associates and customers in this environment, we’re taking some further steps for our U.S. stores,” announced Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Walmart U.S. Dacona Smith, in a press statement on Sunday, April 3, 2020.
The steps include:
Regulating Store Entry
The number of customers who can be in a store at one time will be limited. Stores will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly 20 percent of a store’s capacity.
Shopping Inside the Store
To help customers avoid coming into close contact with others as they shop, the store has instituted one-way movement through its aisles in several of its stores, using floor markers and direction from associates.
According to Smith, the changes were implemented because, while many of its customers were following the advice of the medical community regarding social distancing and safety, they were concerned that many stores still observed some behaviors that put undue risk on its employees.
“We want to encourage customers to bring the fewest number of people per family necessary to shop, allow for space with other customers while shopping, and practice social distancing while waiting in lines,” Smith stressed.
In conclusion, she assured, “As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, our leaders and operations teams will continue to listen to advice from medical experts, associates and customers, and consider how we can best serve people while helping slow the spread of the virus.” Adding, “The health and safety of our associates and customers is what matters the most.
The changes were implemented beginning Saturday, April 4, 2020.
