UNIONDALE, NEW YORK, – MARCH 14: As the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States, stores like Walmart had problems keeping up with the high demand for paper goods leading to empty shelves on March 14, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. The World Health Organization declared coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic on March 11th. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (CNN) — Some of the largest grocery chains in the United States, including Kroger, H-E-B and Walmart, are changing store hours during the coronavirus outbreak. They say the reduced hours will give them more time to clean stores, restock and keep workers healthy. Kroger, the largest US supermarket chain, said it was adjusting store operating hours in some areas “based on local circumstances.” “We will continue to make decisions that allow us to operate clean, open and stocked stores to serve our customers and support our associates,” the company said in a statement on its website. Kroger said two employees — one at a King Soopers store in Colorado and another at a Fred Meyer’s store in Washington state — have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. “Upon learning of these cases, we partnered with state and local health experts, followed all sanitation and cleaning procedures, communicated with and supported our store teams, and with the support of the state governments, the stores remain open,” a statement said. Earlier this month, Kroger said it was capping individual purchases of “sanitization, cold and flu-related products,” to deal with panic buying . Grocery chain Publix, which has more than 1200 stores across Florida and southern states, said on Saturday it will be closing at 8 p.m. ET, or two hours early, to give employees time to restock produce and sanitize shelves. “Publix will continue to focus on keeping our associates healthy — and our stores open and stocked — to serve and support all our communities,” Todd Jones, Publix CEO, said in a statement on the chain’s website . Jones noted that food demonstrations were suspended until further notice and the company has set purchase limits “on some key items to […]
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