Janelle Irwin Taylor
Publix is setting aside time for first responders and health care workers to shop uninhibited by the general population.
Thursday evenings from 8-9 p.m. and Friday mornings from 7-8 a.m., the store will open only for documented health care workers, law enforcement officers or first responders.
The schedule takes effect April 16 and will continue until further notice.
It’s Publix’s latest effort to protect vulnerable individuals and, in this case, those whose health is crucial to the ongoing battle with COVID-19.
The pharmacy will also be available during the exclusive shopping hours.
The move comes after the company had already dedicated shopping hours to senior citizens.
Senior shopping hours are scheduled for 7-8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The company employs more than 200,000 workers and operates more than 1,200 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
As the new coronavirus has spread throughout the Sunshine State, forcing restaurant dining rooms to close, Publix has faced unprecedented demand.
In late March, the grocery chain announced it would bring on thousands of workers to keep pace.
The pandemic has also forced Publix to take safety measures such as installing sneeze guards to protect employees from exposure. The decision came after Publix announced one of its employees in Cumming, Georgia tested positive for COVID-19.
2 comments
Marlene
April 14, 2020 at 9:42 pm
What a great idea and an important way to help protect our essential workers. Kudos to Publix.
Maria
April 16, 2020 at 9:22 pm
I thought it was nice until they didn’t include the post office
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