Walmart Inc. is taking new steps to protect employees and customers from the coronavirus, including installing plastic-glass barriers at its store pharmacy lanes and registers. The sneeze guards will go up over the next two to three weeks, the company said late Tuesday.
Grocery chains Kroger, Albertsons and Florida grocery chain Publix also have said they are installing the partitions at their registers.
Dacona Smith, chief operating officer of Walmart U.S., said in a news release that "installing these barriers is another way Walmart is helping bring peace of mind that we are doing everything we can to keep our people and our stores safe."
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In addition, the Bentonville retailer will install floor decals 6 feet apart at store entrances and checkout lanes to help customers judge the federally recommended distance from one another. The decals will be put in place over the next week.
Walmart employees will have free use through June of an app that lets them access up to half their earned wages each week despite a two-week pay period. Walmart also is waiving the $4 fee for employee telehealth services.