Grocery Stores Are Adding Sneeze Guard Barriers to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus

By Jenna | Staff Writer

Mar 25, 2020 @ 7:55 AM MDT

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Retailers are taking more steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

While many brick and mortar stores have closed their doors due to the coronavirus, essential retailers like grocery stores are taking steps to protect both shoppers and employees.

Many grocery stores have already reduced their hours of operation to make time for deep cleaning and restocking their shelves. Some have even added special shopping hours for senior citizens and other people who are at greater risk for contracting coronavirus.

If you have ventured out and into your local grocery stores, you may have noticed other changes taking place including “educational floor decals” reminding customers to stand six feet apart while waiting in line.

Some stores are taking even more steps by adding sneeze guard partitions at registers to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Walmart, Albertsons, H-E-B, Jewel-Osco, Kroger, Publix, Sam’s Club, and other major grocers have begun installing plexiglass barriers in checkout areas to help protect both shoppers and store employees.

Dacona Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Walmart, said in a statement,

Staying safe and healthy is more important than ever for our associates, our customers and for us. 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.

Have you noticed these new precautions where you shop? Please share!

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Join The Discussion

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Jackie March 25, 2020 at 8:11 am MST

Yes! All our grocery stores have them here in Manhattan Kansas! Great idea btw. Those poor workers need to be protected also. They work with hundreds of customers every day.

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Amber March 25, 2020 at 8:24 am MST

Interesting, I’ll have to keep my eye out for them. I’ve been watching youtube skits, and there was one that said something along the lines of: We shouldn’t be so surprised we have to have reminders everywhere for people to cover their sneezes and wash their hands. It was only 3 years ago we had to tell people to stop eating tide pods. So true.

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Erin March 25, 2020 at 9:10 am MST

People are just not taught to be hygienic and wash hands anymore. I see people leave bathrooms without washing hands all the time. My son’s friend always insists he doesn’t need to wash his hands before handling food because he “just” washed them (but also touched any number of things thereafter). Doesn’t matter, dude! In my house, we always wash hands whenever we onlinee inside and before opening the fridge, preparing food, etc., and we are rarely sick in onlineparison to the people we know.

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animity March 25, 2020 at 2:02 pm MST

We are like this too. My kids always onlinement when we are in public bathrooms and there is always one or two people who walk out without washing…grosses us out! If people only knew….
Plus my kids know the routine, walk in the house straight to the sink to wash hands. Everyone should get into that habit.

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rochellemcgee March 26, 2020 at 8:45 am MST

Yes, even in professional environments, I’d see women onlinee into the bathroom, do their business, and walk out without stopping by the sink. Yesterday at Lowe’s, a lady probably in her late 60s came in and did the same – it’s a bit maddening considering so much of what we’re doing is to help their age group. Makes you want to just throw up your (sanitized) hands.

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jennifer March 25, 2020 at 11:09 am MST

😂

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Cassie March 25, 2020 at 8:41 am MST

Ok, but sneezing is not a symptom of Covid-19.

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Amber March 25, 2020 at 8:53 am MST

It’s a symptom of 1000 other viruses, though. Let’s take what we can get 😉.

It is said it can spread through sneezing, so that’s why they’re putting up the sneeze guards.

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RNrightnow March 25, 2020 at 9:07 am MST

Then call it a “droplet guard”, because it’s spread through stuff that sprays out of ones mouth/nose when coughing/ sneezing. Either way, if it makes them feel better, thats important too. If it makes the employees feel valued, that’s all that matters.

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Lulu March 25, 2020 at 9:10 am MST

While it may not be a onlinemon symptom of covid-19, asymptomatic people can spread the virus thru sneezing and allergy season is upon us.

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Ivan March 25, 2020 at 9:03 am MST

Good idea. Was at the grocery store yesterday and felt sorry for the college-aged cashier. They are really on the front lines and I was surprised store didnt’ give them gloves and a mask.

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Amyarlene March 25, 2020 at 9:07 am MST

I don’t think it’s just a sneeze guard. Could help with accidental spit from talking when speaking and it helps with the 6 ft for social distancing. Plus, if you are carrying the virus and not showing symptoms then sneeze, you can still expose that way, even though the sneeze itself is not a symptom of the virus. Happy to see people are trying to help stop the spread where they can. This is such a worrisome time for a lot of people. My mother is in a nursing home and we can’t visit and my heart is breaking. I am very concerned for her health. Positivity and prayers to all out there during this difficult time!

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Cristine March 25, 2020 at 9:26 am MST

I saw a Pressure Washing onlinepany near us had the supermarket put all their carts outside and the onlinepany came in the morning before opening and bleach cleaned all the carts using their spray equipment. What a great way for them to help and keep people safe!

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StephB March 25, 2020 at 12:02 pm MST

That’s awesome! Love to hear stories like these!!👍🏼

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annie March 25, 2020 at 1:25 pm MST

They are charging/getting paid to clean them but it IS a wonderful step to take to help with this disease that is being spread so quickly. They are now finding out (with new information onlineing from testing on cruise ships) that this virus can live on some surfaces much longer than the originally thought 3 days.

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betty March 25, 2020 at 9:48 am MST

None of my poor cashiers look that happy…maybe it’ll work 🙂

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tracey March 25, 2020 at 9:51 am MST

I’m hoping some of these measures last, like the clear guards in the stores. Why are we not normally protecting everyone prior to all of this?! I just had a cashier sneeze all over at the checkout a week ago and then tell me it was just allergies. No one really knows if they are contagious or not when the sneeze jumps out!

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Brian Berger March 25, 2020 at 10:18 am MST

They were installed at my local Albertsons yesterday.

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ohjodi March 25, 2020 at 10:32 am MST

Aldi’s is in the process of doing this, according to an email they sent out.

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Carrie O. March 25, 2020 at 10:38 am MST

My 19 yr old son works at HyVee and I’m very thankful to him and all the rest of the grocery store workers. I appreciate that they continue to show up to work every day so we can buy the essential items we need right now. A lot of them are overwhelmed too because they’re doing triple the business they’re used to. Although the temporary glass might not be a perfect solution, I’m glad Hyvee installed them at their check stands.

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cielo0 March 25, 2020 at 11:07 am MST

I’ve seen from Instagram stories that some grocery stores in other countries have added a hand washing station before entering the stores.

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jennifer March 25, 2020 at 11:11 am MST

A hand washing station should have been done years ago for basic sanitation. But I guess only if people use it 🤷🏻‍♀️

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nikis22 March 25, 2020 at 12:16 pm MST

Glad to see

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K March 25, 2020 at 1:09 pm MST

I hope that once we’re past this, that many of these practices and measures last. There’s flu and other bugs that these things can be helpful in preventing as well

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MJ March 25, 2020 at 1:26 pm MST

I was at target yesterday and my cart gave me a good measure of social distance in the self checkout line. However the person behind me was breathing down my neck holding their basket. It would have been awkwardly close in any circumstance, especially now. It’s not like the more you cram into the line the faster your checkout will go. It felt like impatience too me. On the other hand my husband was at Office Depot stocking up and was annoyed at the social distancing line markers. While I was thinking YES! This is brilliant and we should social distance FOREVER. I love it! Get on it Target!!!

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Shoppingfan March 25, 2020 at 3:05 pm MST

I work for H-E-B grocery store & we have the screens up. We also have haulted returns on the most onlinemon items. We wipe the register, card machine, bag racks, etc after each transaction. We have distance markers on the floor so u observe space while in line. We also wipe every cart before customers get it. As you walk up, it’s wiped down then given to you. At the bathroom you are given a wipe to open the door & handle the stall. Once u exit, you are offered sanitizer same as when u leave the store. This is handled by a live person. We are serious about fights this! If you haven’t been to an H-E-B store, visit when you can!

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Beth P March 25, 2020 at 3:31 pm MST

In the tri state area of where I live, NY, NJ and Pa we are running low on all PPE and have already worked using a mask twice and even w/o one. New Jersey numbers stand at 4,442 convid 19 patients as of today.

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