SPOKANE, Wash. — Grocery stores throughout the Spokane area are changing their policies and procedures to help protect employees and shoppers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Costco announced this week that it will require customers to wear face masks at all its stores beginning May 4.
Some of the changes at other local grocery stores include the installation of plexiglass barriers at some stores and reduced hours, among others.
KREM has reached out to the grocery stores included on this list about any potential changes to their policies in the coming weeks.
Here is a breakdown of how local stores are adapting to the public health crisis.
Yoke's Fresh Market
Yoke's Fresh Market has limited high-demand items to two per person in an effort to better serve its customers.
It has also enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols, including the addition of extra cleaning crews working in stores every day, hand sanitizer stations for shoppers, and disinfecting wipes for carts while they are available.
Returns on over-purchased items will not be accepted at stores.
Yoke's has also changed its hours to help with restocking, and added hours especially for seniors and people who are more vulnerable to the coronavirus.
On Wednesday, Yoke's is open from 6-9 a.m. for vulnerable populations, and is opening the pharmacy starting at 7 a.m.
Yoke's also changed its hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at most locations for restocking and a daily deep cleaning. The Kellogg store opens at 6:30 a.m.
"We are deeply grateful to everyone in our communities for working together with us to offer this dedicated shopping time to our most vulnerable neighbors," a spokesperson for Yoke's said.
Safeway and Albertsons
Safeway and Albertsons stores in Washington state are limiting the number of customers who can be inside the store at one time to roughly 30% of the stores’ capacity. The stores are also implementing a one-way movement policy in the aisles, which will be marked to provide direction.
The company has also sourced cloth masks for all of its employees.
All stores in Washington have also installed plexiglass partitions in their checkout lanes as a protective barrier between customers and cashiers.
Stores have adjusted their hours to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to give teams time they need to restock shelves and deep clean.
Safeway and Albertsons have also set aside dedicated shopping hours for senior citizens and other at-risk populations, such as pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems. The dedicated times are Tuesday and Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
All customers who are not categorized as “vulnerable” are asked to respect these hours.
Stores are also offering "contact-free" delivery and drive-up services, and free same-day and next-day delivery of prescriptions through at least May 1.
Rosauers
Rosauers stores have installed plexiglass partitions to keep employees and customers safe.
The barriers have also gone up in other areas of the store where customers and employees closely interact, such as the deli.
Chief Operating Officer Mike Shirts said in a statement to KREM on Wednesday that stores are not currently implementing a requirement for customers to wear masks.
"We are following all local health department recommendations & guidelines and continue to evaluate on an ongoing basis," the statement reads. "The health of our customers and employees continues to be our number one priority."
Rosauers has also expanded hours reserved for at-risk populations to shop in their store. At-risk shoppers can access the story early from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.
RELATED: Rosauers stores to install plexiglass barriers between customers and employees at checkstands
Cart wipes and sanitizer are also available at store entrances and other key areas.
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's is making people line up outside of its South Hill location and only allowing a small amount of customers to shop at any given time. The store is also keeping every other checkout stand closed, wiping down surfaces and more to ensure their employees and customers healthy.
The company is also limiting customers to two of each product and only one full cart per trip.
Fred Meyer
Fred Meyer stores began limiting the number of customers to 50% of the building's calculated capacity on Tuesday. They are allowing 1 person per 120 square feet.
The company has also installed plexiglass partitions at registers and placed distance marking decals on the floors.
Fred Meyer is encouraging employees to wear protective masks and gloves, and is taking employees’ temperatures in distribution centers and some stores.
Walmart
On April 4, Walmart began limiting the number of customers who could be in a store at once. Stores now allow no more than five customers for every 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly 20% of a store’s capacity.
To manage this restriction, the associates at a store will mark a queue at a single-entry door and direct arriving customers there, where they will be admitted one-by-one and counted. Associates and signage will remind customers of the importance of social distancing while they’re waiting to enter a store, especially before it opens in the morning.
Once a store reaches its capacity, customers will be admitted inside on a “1-out-1-in” basis.
Walmart has also temporarily suspended in-store returns and exchanges during the pandemic.
Costco
Costco announced this week that it will begin requiring customers to wear face masks at all its stores beginning May 4.
The new rule doesn't apply to children under the age of 2 or to individuals who are unable to wear a mask or face covering due to a medical condition.
In an effort to increase social distancing, Costco has also started limiting the number of people who can enter its stores.
Only two people will be allowed in for every membership card that is presented, according to the company's website. That means parents who normally haul their whole family to the store may have to leave some of them at home.
Costco stores are closing at 6:30 p.m. on weekdays temporarily, two hours earlier than normal. Gas stations will close at 7 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 p.m. on weekends.
Costco has also added a third day of special shopping hours just for seniors and people with physical impairments. Initially, Costco was offering the 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. hours on Tuesday and Thursday, but it has now added Wednesday to the list.
Costco has started limiting how many specific items people can buy at any one time, including paper towels and toilet paper. The store also will not accept returns of toilet paper, bottled water, sanitizing wipes, paper towels, rice and disinfecting spray.
Costco's food courts are offering limited menus, and the seating areas have been removed.
