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Walmart eases COVID-19 restrictions on store hours

Extended hours come as retail giant reopens operations

Russell Redman

August 14, 2020

3 Min Read
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More than 4,000 of Walmart's 4,700 U.S. stores will expand their closing time from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. by Aug. 17.Walmart

Next week, Walmart U.S. plans to extend hours at about 85% of its stores, which had curtailed hours of operation at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart said more than 4,000 of its 4,700 Walmart U.S. stores will expand their closing time from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. by Aug. 17, “providing customers with greater options to shop for the food, medicine and supplies they need.” The company had cut hours at Walmart and Neighborhood Market locations to 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. effective March 19 to give associates more time to clean stores, stock products and institute COVID-19 safety measures.

“As we continue reopening our operations, the health and safety of our associates, customers and communities will guide our decisions,” a Walmart spokesman said in an email on Friday. “We’ll continue assessing our remaining stores to determine the right time to expand their closing hours. With this change, we will continue the health and safety measures currently in place, such as social distancing, health screenings, plastic barriers at the registers and masks.”

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Since July 20, all shoppers have been required to wear face coverings at all Walmart U.S. stores. A face mask mandate has been in effect for associates at all stores, clubs, distribution and fulfillment centers, and corporate offices since April 20.

Walmart said its stores will continue to reserve an exclusive shopping period every Tuesday, one hour before opening (6 a.m. to 7 a.m.), for customers age 60 and older, who are at a higher risk for the virus. Pharmacies and vision centers also will be open during that time. Most Walmart pharmacies are open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Related:Weis Markets extends store hours, restarts some services

Since July 20, all shoppers have been required to wear face coverings at all Walmart U.S. stores. A face mask mandate has been in effect for associates at all stores, clubs, distribution and fulfillment centers, and corporate offices since April 20.

Walmart also continues to regulate shopper traffic in stores. Since early April, the company has designated a single entrance and a single exit at each store to help maintain social distancing and reduce the incidence of customers closely passing by each other. The shopper count also has been limited to no more than five customers per each 1,000 square feet at a given time, or about 20% of a store’s capacity.

At Sam’s Club, hours of operation for all members are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Plus members can shop 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. In-club hours reserved for seniors and at-risk members run 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Most Sam’s Club pharmacies are open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; they are closed on Sundays.

Related:Publix, Meijer set to expand store hours as states open up

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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