Coronavirus

Target Scales Back Hours, Lets Elderly Shop Separately Amid Pandemic

Many grocery and retail stores have faced an increase in sales as people stock up on essentials amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Target Scales Back Hours, Lets Elderly Shop Separately Amid Pandemic
Susan Walsh / AP
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Target is the latest chain to cut its hours because of the coronavirus.

Grocery and retail stores have seen a rush in sales as many Americans stock up on food and paper goods ahead of what may be weeks of not leaving home.

Starting Wednesday, Target will close its nearly 1,900 stores at 9 p.m. daily. CEO Brian Cornell says the shorter hours will give workers more time to re-stock shelves and deep scrub the stores, including wiping checkout lanes and touchscreens every 30 minutes.

Target is also adopting a policy that many other stores have added to help the elderly and those who are at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus. The first hour of shopping on Wednesdays will be reserved for those most vulnerable customers.

Whole Foods and grocery giant Albertsons, which owns Safeway, Acme and Vons, have also set special hours for these shoppers. 

As for Target employees, the company will waive its absentee policy and will continue to pay workers who have tested positive for the coronavirus or who are forced to quarantine.

Contains footage from CNN