"Local grocers are working to keep customers and their front line employees safer with the installation of plexiglass shields, while also urging the federal government to make masks and gloves available to grocery workers.
Kroger, the country’s largest supermarket chain with more than 2,800 stores nationwide, said it hopes to have all stores equipped with the shields soon. The protective screens will stand between a customer and a cashier so that any airborne droplets - either from a cough or a sneeze - will be blocked from hitting the person on the other side.
“There is a national shortage of personal protective equipment like this, and we fully support America’s health care workers having first priority to obtain the equipment they need,” the company said in a statement. “We are advocating to government officials at all levels for help securing a priority place in line for all grocery workers - after health care workers - to have access to protective masks and gloves.”
While both local Kroger locations in Spring Hill and Thompson’s Station expect to have the shields soon, they have not been installed at this time. Additional steps taken locally at Kroger, however, include shorter hours and a seniors-only shopping hour. The automated telephone answering system tells callers the store took those measures to allow for rest, cleaning and proper stocking of items.
Additionally, Kristal Howard, a Kroger spokeswoman, told The Cincinnati Enquirer educational floor decals will be added to promote physical distancing at check lanes and other counters.
Currently, Kroger stores are open seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., with special hours for seniors 60 and older, as well as other high-risk customers on Monday-Thursday from 7 -8 a.m.
Both Publix and Walmart have each stated they have plans to install plexiglass shields, with Walmart adding floor decals to help with social distancing...."
--per Chris Yow with Spring Hill Advertiser News