Trader Joe’s has announced closure of three stores located in Manhattan and Plainview, NY. and in Elkridge, MD.  Stores will be closed temporarily to allow cleaning and restocking.  Affected workers will be quarantined.  Many stores are now taking the precaution of restricting the numbers of shoppers to maintain social distancing. 

An employee at a Publix supermarket in Cumming, GA. tested positive for COVID-19 on March 23rd.

The Kroger company announced that an employee at each of a King Soopers in CO. and at a Fred Meyer store in WA. were diagnosed with COVID-19.  Implicated stores remain open but have been subject to extensive decontamination.

According to public health officials, the risk to shoppers is low provided that personal hygiene procedures are followed.

Supermarkets have increased disinfection on high-contact areas including door handles, shopping carts and touch pads. 

Chains throughout the U.S. are designating an hour after early opening for senior citizens and those with a predisposing health issues making them more susceptible to the effects of COVID-19.

It is inevitable that with an apparent escalating incidence rate of COVID-19 in the U.S., limited only by the number of tests performed, that community transmission is taking place.  Cases will be diagnosed in all domestic and commercial locations and situations in coming weeks.