Don’t get freaked out, but Walmart to force social distancing in stores to avoid coronavirus

If you’re planning on entering a Walmart location today, don’t be surprised if the entryway is different than you’re accustomed to. The global retailer announced it will severely limit the number people in its stores starting today.

The announcement, made Friday by Walmart Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dacona Smith, came as a result of Walmart customers refusal to follow suggested guidelines for social distancing.

“While many of our customers have been following the advice of the medical community regarding social distancing and safety, we have been concerned to still see some behaviors in our stores that put undue risk on our people,” Smith wrote in a news release. “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. We’re also seeing states and municipalities set varying policies regarding crowd control – which has created some confusion regarding shopping.”

Beginning today the company will limit the number of customers who can be in a store at a given time.

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. Although they vary by location an average Walmart Superstore is reported to be approximately 180,000 square-feet, meaning 900 people could be in a store at once.

“We care deeply about our associates’ health and well-being, and in recent weeks we’ve taken steps such as expanding our paid leave policies; closing our stores overnight for cleanings and restocking; installing sneeze guards and social distance markers in stores; beginning temperature checks; and starting to make gloves and masks available to associates who want them,” Smith wrote.

“To manage this restriction, the associates at a store will mark a queue at a single-entry door (in most cases the grocery entrance) and direct arriving customers there, where they will be admitted one-by-one and counted,” Smith wrote. “Associates and signage will remind customers of the importance of social distancing while they’re waiting to enter a store – especially before it opens in the morning.”

“Once a store reaches its capacity, customers will be admitted inside on a “1-out-1-in” basis,” Smith wrote.

Once inside the store customers will only be able to move one-way through aisles in some stores. The goal there being to limit the number of close-contacts between customers.

SportsPlus

News

Mississippi program helps teachers buy home in areas facing severe teacher shortages

News

Three arrested after body of missing Louisiana college student found in Mississippi shot multiple times

News

Ag company’s $3.6 million investment to modernize to create 26 jobs; retain 88 positions in rural Mississippi

News

Mississippi man killed in noonday wreck on rural Mississippi highway

News

Mississippi rental business warehouse destroyed by large fire. Firefighters worked scene for nearly 24 hours.

News

Mississippi judge denies motion to seal capital murder case of man accused of killing former Ole Miss graduate who has been missing since 2022

News

Ole Miss hurler turned country music star to play night of Rebels’ first home football game

News

Mississippi man gets sentence nearly tripled by judge after creating commotion outside courtroom

News

Two Mississippi Lottery players rake in more than $350,000 in winnings on Wednesday

News

Paradise turns into uncertainty for Mississippians left stranded at airport for a week by global computer glitch

News

Police looking for thieves who stole Mississippi thrift store items used to help clothe, feed and provide medical care for those in need

News

Mississippi man charged with felony DUI after leading deputy on pursuit in car, on foot

News

Texas man arrested after deputies discover 44 pounds of meth during Mississippi interstate traffic stop

News

Mississippi 9-year-old proves anyone can make a difference after raising thousands with lemonade stand

News

Mississippi woman sentenced in murder of man she reportedly met on Snapchat. His lifeless body was found by pipeline workers on rural road.

News

Mississippi man identified as gunshot victim found in car that crashed into back of Georgia house

News

Mississippi man uses AirPods to track vehicle after it was stolen. He discovers it was one of many stolen vehicles at same address.

News

Mississippi casino showers player with $205,000 ‘Mo’ Mummy’ jackpot

News

Man killed in weekend wreck in rural Louisiana

News

‘Mississippi’ taxi cabs give Londoners a taste of the Magnolia State

News

Mississippi. man accused of murdering his roommate

News

Mississippi man pleads to million dollar bank fraud conspiracy

News

Mother arrested in Mississippi after reportedly killing one son, abandoning another along interstate tells reporter she was on drugs when committing crimes

News

Swiss company plans to set up in Mississippi, invest $176 million with potential of more than 300 jobs