Walmart in El Centro temporarily closes due to rising coronavirus cases in Imperial County
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Walmart said it decided to temporarily close the El Centro store due to the rising cases of coronavirus in Imperial County.
Tiffany Wilson, Walmart Director of Communications, said, "As an essential business and member of the El Centro community, we understand the role we play in providing our customers with food, medicine and other essential items during this unprecedented time. We also understand Imperial County has been hit especially hard by COVID-19."
“We have decided to close our El Centro store at 2150 N Waterman Ave. to the public at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20 and all day Thursday, May 21 as part of a company-initiated program. This will allow extra time for a third-party specialist to further sanitize the store. It will also give our associates additional time to restock shelves and prepare the store to once again serve the community during this unprecedented time. We plan to reopen the store to customers at 7 a.m. on Friday, May 22."
“Everything we’re doing is for the well-being of our associates and customers, and in consideration of guidance by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and health experts. When the store reopens on Friday, we will continue to conduct associate health screens and temperature checks, and all associates will be provided with face masks and gloves."
“These protocols are in addition to the extensive measures we’ve put in place during the past several weeks to help protect our associates and customers, including installing sneeze guards at registers, limiting the number of customers in a store at any one time, one-way aisle shopping, placing social distancing signage, and enacting an emergency leave policy for associates who are unable or uncomfortable coming to work.
“We will continue working closely with health officials and adjusting how we serve the community, while also keeping the health and safety of our customers and associates in mind," Wilson said.
Several residents reached out to News 11, claiming that the store had closed due to several employees testing positive for coronavirus, but the store denied these rumors.
