Walmart closes Southside store for deep cleaning

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Walmart announced its store on Beach Boulevard at Southside would be closed Friday night until 6 a.m. Sunday morning for deep cleaning.

During this time, a third-party cleaning crew will deep clean and sanitize the store. It will also give employees time to restock shelves.

STORY: ‘This virus doesn’t care’: Pastor pushes for vaccinations after losing 6 members in 10 days to COVID

In a statement to Action News Jax, the retailer said, “As you know, several areas across the country have begun seeing a renewed increase in positive COVID-19 cases, mainly in regions with low vaccination rates, and we want to assist health officials working against the pandemic.”This is the third Northeast Florida Walmart to close under rising COVID-19 cases.

On Tuesday, the Macclenny store closed, and on July 25, the Normandy Boulevard store temporarily shut down for cleaning. The Walmart in Middleburg closed as well on August 1.

The Walmart at 8808 Beach Blvd. will be closed during the last weekend of Florida’s Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, which runs through August 9th.

In addition to extra cleaning, Walmart said all of its employees are wearing masks regardless of vaccination in compliance with CDC guidelines.

Employees are also eligible to receive a $150 bonus for getting the vaccine. Customers, too, can get the shot during walk-in or online appointments.

STORY: Pediatricians look to the future of hospitals and kids

Action News Jax asked other big-box retailers what’s being done to keep stores clean with the threat of the Delta variant.

Target said it frequently disinfects and cleans its stores throughout the day with a focus on high-touch areas like check-out lanes.

A representative said an employee is stationed at each store entrance to clean and disinfect carts and baskets between uses.

Target strongly recommends masks for guests. On Tuesday, it will require face masks for employees in compliance with CDC guidelines.

”We’ll follow all local mandates, as we have throughout the pandemic, and continue to monitor guidance from the CDC closely. We will also maintain all of our health and safety protocols that include increased cleaning measures and social distancing. We encourage our team members and guests to get the COVID-19 vaccine by offering vaccine appointments at nearly all CVS at Target locations and providing paid time and free Lyft rides to team members when they get their vaccines,” the retailer said in a statement.

Southeastern Grocers, Winn Dixie’s parent company, said it’s also focused on cleaning high-touch areas and encouraged customers to use touch-free payment.

In a statement to Action News Jax, Elizabeth Thompson, EVP and Chief People Officer for Southeastern Grocers said, “Southeastern Grocers puts our people and our customers at the center of every decision we make, and our commitment to their safety continues to guide our response throughout the unprecedented challenges of this pandemic.”

Thompson continued, “With the rise in COVID-19 cases, we also encourage customers to practice social distancing and wear masks while shopping in our stores.”

©2021 Cox Media Group