After two months of altering its hours in response to COVID-19, popular grocer Publix announced Thursday hours would be extended at its more than 1,200 stores starting this weekend.
Publix announced Thursday that store hours would be extended from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. beginning Saturday, May 16. The Florida-based franchise’s pharmacy’s will return to regular operating hours, according in a press release Thursday. Designated shopping hours for customers over the age of 65, first responders and health care workers will be discontinued with the time change.
However, Publix advised those customer to shop around 7 a.m., when the stores are typically less crowded.
Since March 14, the grocery chain had reduced its hours to ensure staff had time to sanitize its stores as a protective measure in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. The store brand had began closing its doors at 8 p.m. The store employees spent the later hours of the day restocking shelves as demand rose at all of its locations across the country.
The new time change affects the brand’s more than 1,200 stores across the country. There are more than 180 stores based in Georgia.
Social distancing will still be in implemented at stores, including the following measures like:
- Conducting additional cleaning and preventive sanitation before and after store hours, including sanitizing high-touch surfaces frequently throughout the day
- Requiring associates to wear face coverings and allowing associates to wear disposable, non-latex gloves where not prohibited by OSHA regulations
- Encouraging 6-foot separation through
- regular intercom announcements
- signage and floor decals and
- one-way shopping aisles
- Having plexiglass shields at all registers, pharmacies and customer service counters
- Promoting contactless pay and
- Allowing store managers to limit the number of customers inside stores.
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