As pandemic drags on, Publix removes one-way shopping aisles

One-way aisles are no more at Publix stores across Tampa Bay.

Over the weekend, the Lakeland-based chain’s employees began to pull up their taped arrows. The floor decals directed shoppers to travel in one direction down each aisle to keep them from passing one another face-to-face. The measure was one of several unrolled at retailers nationwide in efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

But as cases start to trend down, retailers are at the early stages of relaxing some of their COVID-19 precautions while still maintaining mask use.

Publix, like other grocers, also has moved to providing shoppers disinfecting wipes to clean off carts rather than having employees do it.

“We continue to take actions across our operations to help safeguard the health and well-being of our customers, associates and communities,” Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said in a statement. “We implemented one-way aisles at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic to help our customers understand and practice social distancing, and over time it has become widely understood and adopted into our routines.”

One-way aisles have been discontinued at all of Publix locations except those with local laws or ordinances that specify they be used.

But it’s not uncommon to see shoppers ignore, or forget, about the arrows pointing them in a certain direction.

Publix stores still have regular announcements and floor decals that remind shoppers to stay at least 6 feet apart, Brous said.

Walmart, which was among the first retailers to begin putting directional arrows and reminders to stay 6 feet apart on its floor, is still using the method across its stores nationwide. Trader Joe’s and Aldi still use one-way aisles, while Winn-Dixie uses floor decal spots to maintain social distancing.

Brous said Publix has shifted to having customers wipe down carts in part because disinfectant wipes have started becoming more widely available and the chain is able to distribute more. Aldi has already made the same shift. The new Hitchcock’s Green Market in St. Petersburg also has wipes for shoppers to disinfect their own carts.

In mid-July, retailers shifted from encouraging masks to requiring them — though most grocers stop short of forcibly removing shoppers who refuse to wear a face covering.

Even with masks, social distancing and plexiglass barriers, grocery workers are still getting sick.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union reported last week that 103 grocery workers have died because of the virus and more than 14,000 workers have been exposed to it. Those numbers only include the union’s members, which doesn’t include workers at stores such as Publix, Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.

In April, the Tampa Bay Times published a report that showed Publix lagged behind competitors in enacting COVID-19 protection measures. At one point Publix employees were not allowed to wear masks to work. Now, they’re a required part of employee uniforms.

Follow trends affecting the local economy

Subscribe to our free Business by the Bay newsletter

We’ll break down the latest business and consumer news and insights you need to know every Wednesday.

Loading...

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Publix also never set a company-wide standard that limited the number of shoppers allowed in the store at one time. That’s something Aldi, Walmart and Trader Joe’s continue to do. Walmart specifies it only allows 20 people in its store for every 1,000 feet.

Several chains have stopped offering designated shopping hours for the elderly or immune compromised. Publix returned to its normal operating hours in mid-May after shortening to give staff more time to disinfect and restock.

Walmart still offers a senior shopping period and hour before its stores open every Tuesday. About two weeks ago, Walmart began extending closing hours at most stores from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Walmart stores that had once been open 24-hours-a-day still have not returned to that schedule.

In Florida so far, 11,331 people have died because of the coronavirus since the state’s first cases were announced earlier this year. Another 623,471 people in Florida have tested positive for the virus.

• • •

Tampa Bay Times coronavirus coverage

HOW CORONAVIRUS IS SPREADING IN FLORIDA: Find the latest numbers for your county, city or zip code.

FACE MASKS: Read the latest on guidelines, tips for comfort and long-term wear

GET THE DAYSTARTER MORNING UPDATE: Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information.

THE CORONAVIRUS SCRAPBOOK: We collected your stories, pictures, songs, recipes, journals and more to show what life has been like during the pandemic.

HAVE A TIP?: Send us confidential news tips

We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription.