Walmart Begins Temperature Checks of Employees, Offering Masks and Gloves to Mitigate Coronavirus Pandemic

Shane Trejo   |  

Mar 31, 2020

Corporate behemoth Walmart has announced that they are taking additional measures to stop the spread of coronavirus at their locations across the United States.

Walmart told the public in a social media post that they are beginning regular temperature checks of employees as well as offering them masks and gloves as they attempt to protect shoppers and employees alike.

They wrote on Tuesday that “to better serve our customers and promote a safe and healthy workplace for our associates, we are taking the following actions in our U.S.-based stores, clubs and supply chain locations over the next few weeks:

• taking the temperatures of our associates as they report to work, as well as asking them some basic health screening questions
• making masks and gloves available, as supplies permit, for associates who want to wear them
• continuing to take steps to promote social distancing”

Their official announcement can be seen here:

“This week we are also sharing a new framework with associates regarding healthy behaviors at work,” Walmart wrote on their corporate website. “We’re asking them to remember three numbers: 6, 20 and 100.”

Walmart wants their customers to remember to stay six feet away from other shoppers, wash their hands for 20 seconds and do so frequently, and stay home if their temperature surpasses 100 degrees or they have other common symptoms. They are hoping that their customers follow these common-sense tips in order to bring the pandemic to a speedy end.

Another change Walmart will be making is that they will be implementing one-way aisles in their stores so shoppers are less likely to be clustered closely together while picking up items.

Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner is adamant that his corporation wants all shoppers to feel safe and does not want his stores becoming a coronavirus hub during the pandemic.

“Any associate with a temperature of 100.0 degrees will be paid for reporting to work and asked to return home and seek medical treatment if necessary. The associate will not be able to return to work until they are fever-free for at least three days,” Furner said.

“We encourage anyone who would like to wear a mask or gloves at work to ask their supervisor for them, while keeping in mind that it is still possible to spread germs while wearing them,” he added.

The marketplace is adapting to the coronavirus pandemic in order to keep people safe as the number of individuals reported as infected continues to rise sharply.