Grocery Stores Across U.S. Reserve Shopping Hours for Seniors During Coronavirus Outbreak

Supermarket chains across the United States are taking measures to ensure that older and at-risk Americans can stock up on food and avoid crowds during the coronavirus epidemic by reserving special hours for them, reports CBS News . Foodtown, which has roughly 30 locations in Texas, announced it would shorten its hours but make special accommodations for senior citizens, starting March 17. The company stated on its website that "we will open our doors from 7-8 a.m. to allow those ages 65 and older to shop in a less crowded environment." Fellow Texas-based grocery chain HEB announced that it "will provide a $3 million gift to support Texas non-profits helping seniors, children, and low-income families as we work together to slow the spread." Meanwhile, Shop & Stop outlets will open earlier to exclusively service customers 60 and older from 6 to 7:30 a.m., starting March 19. Certain local chains or individual stores also revised hours to service seniors, with Trader Joe's in Monrovia, Calif., reserving 9 to 9:30 a.m. for customers over 65, and California chain Northgate Market designating 7:30 to 8 a.m. for seniors. Kroger and Publix also announced modified hours in order to clean their stores more regularly.