Walmart is limiting access to its U.S. stores and staff will monitor checkout lines to help comply with social distancing recommendations, the company said Friday.
According to a blog post from Dacona Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walmart U.S. stores, starting today the company will allow only five customers per 1,000 square feet inside stores at any one time, or about 20% of the store's capacity.
Customers will be admitted one at a time and counted at a single entrance and exit point, typically the grocery entrance. Once the store is at capacity, customers will be allowed access on a one-in, one-out basis.
"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," Smith wrote in the blog post.
Staff and signs will remind customers of the importance of remaining 6 feet apart.
Also on Friday, Target Corp. said starting today employees will monitor and, when needed, control the number of customers in its stores.