BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Walmart has begun to limit the number of customers that are allowed in the store to shop.
Starting on Saturday, April 4, all Walmart stores will begin metering the number of people allowed inside the store.
Customers will be admitted one by one at a single entrance, typically on the grocery side at supercenters. Associates will allow five customers inside per 1,000 square feet of store space, which is about 20% of a store’s usual capacity.
Once that capacity has been reached, customers will be asked to stand in lines outside of the store at a distance of six feet apart.
Many stores have already marked the sidewalks with signage. As one customer exits the store, associates will allow one more customer inside.
Stores will also begin selling only essential items.
All aisles will be marked as one-way to limit contact between customers.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)– “You all packed up, and they said they want you six feet away, but nobody’s caring about it. People are not really taking it seriously. People are really dying”, Jacado Petry said after shopping at Walmart. He comes to shop for his essentials.
Petry and other shoppers are relieved to hear starting Saturday that’s all Walmart stores are going to sell.
Another shopper, Patrick Guzzettta said, “When it comes to essential items like food, milk, and bread, I think that’s a great idea to keep everything open, but I see a lot of unnecessary shopping. You don’t really need a pool right now. You know what I mean?”
Marie Aucoin agreed with the measures. She said, “I wish that it had been done sooner, but I’m definitely in agreement with it now.”
Aucoin is relieved to know customers will be admitted one by one at a single entrance. Associates will allow five customers inside per 1,000 square feet of store space, about 20% of a store’s usual capacity.
“We all have families we love and what to protect, and these measures are just a step in the right direction”, Aucoin said.
When stores reach capacity, customers will line up outside six feet apart. As one customer exits the store, workers will allow another customer inside. It’s the proactive protection, customers and leaders want to see.
“The one buggy, one person. Walmart, I’ll give you credit for that”, Mayor-President Josh Guillory. “I believe you the first store I’ve seen utilize that and it’s started to catch on to our other retailers.”
Everyone agreed these are wanted changes due to unwanted illness, but Petry lamented, “I just can’t wait until it’s over with, so we can go back to our normal lives”.
To read the entire press release, click here.
