Grocery shoppers keep their distance as stores adopt new coronavirus measures

Caution tape blocking entrances, shoppers wearing masks and stickers placed on floors — all signs of grocery shopping’s new normal as stores adapt to the spread of coronavirus.

“We’re slowly starting to see people adapt their own behaviors and really realize the gravity of the situation,” said Jannah Jablonowski, spokeswoman for Giant Eagle.

The Walmart on Route 30 in Hempfield was busy but quiet Friday morning. Many customers wore masks. Caution tape closed off one entrance, and a staff member stood outside to make sure people entering the store kept their distance.

It was not 100% effective.

Shopper Melissa Smith of Greensburg said it’s hard to maintain personal space in a busy grocery store.

“There’s still people crowded around,” she said. “There’s not a whole lot of social distancing going on.”

Store policies are changing frequently as the pandemic evolves.

“The list is growing by the day,” said Tom Charley, co-owner of Charley Family Shop ’n Save, which has stores in Greensburg and Murrysville.

Many stores have changed their hours to allow staff more time to clean, sanitize and restock, as well as dedicating staff members to sanitize the store during the day.

“We’re sanitizing 12 hours a day,” Charley said.

Stores have dedicated time for the elderly and disabled to shop.

Plexiglass dividers provide some separation between cashiers and customers, and stickers on the floor at registers mark the six-foot distance customers should keep from each other.

“We also realize that is something that is very challenging to actually enforce, especially in a grocery store setting,” Jablonowski said.”We want to do everything that we can to give those gentle, friendly reminders without being overbearing.”

Shoppers at the Aldi in Hempfield on Friday found little different from regular operations aside from floor stickers throughout the store.

Valerie Walker of Hempfield loaded up her shopping cart for her family and in-laws. Aldi was more relaxed than other stores in the area, she said.

“I was just surprised there wasn’t anything to clean your buggy,” she said. “They’re doing the best they can. I think everybody’s doing their part as best as we can.”

The rush of customers that marked the early days of the pandemic is over, Charley said. His family’s Shop ’n Save stores are selling slightly more product than usual but nothing like the unprecedented sales of mid-March.

However, some items, such as toilet paper, still are in short supply as manufacturers and suppliers work to replace sold-out products.

“Everyone’s just trying to play catch-up,” Charley said. “We’re basically ordering whatever we can from the warehouse and putting it on the shelves.”

Cheryl Maier of Hempfield said she was able to stock up on most of her essentials at the Route 30 Giant Eagle on Friday, though paper products were still nowhere to be found.

“This is the first time I’ve been out of the house in two weeks,” she said. “If I didn’t run out of cat food, I’d still be in my house.”

Extra precautions on the part of shoppers and staff made her trip longer than normal, but she didn’t mind the wait.

“People are patient,” she said. “I haven’t run into anyone who was going off the deep end about it.”