The Stop & Shop supermarket chain will reduce their hours overall due concerns of the spread of the novel coronavirus, but will open early to exclusively accommodate customers over 60-years-old who are at a higher risk of developing serious complications from the sickness.
Stop & Shop adjusted its hours of operation from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at most stores beginning Monday. But effective Thursday, March 19, stores will open from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. only for customers over the age of 60 who the CDC and local health officials say are most vulnerable.
“Stop & Shop is making the decision to allow community members in this age category to shop in a less crowded environment, which better enables social distancing,” the company said in a statement.
The stores will not be requesting ID for entry, but management has requested “that we all respect the purpose of the early opening – and do the right thing for our older neighbors.”
Stop & Shop will, however, reserve the right to ask customers to leave if they are not a member of the senior age group.
The supermarket chain, with local locations in Brick, Toms River and Point Pleasant Borough, pledges to maintain a clean store and detailed their measures to accomplish as much.
“We’re also taking additional measures during this time, which include wiping down checkout areas including the belts and pin pads with disinfectant even more frequently,” the statement said.
