Most of Walmart's US locations will be increasing their store hours by 90 minutes, extending their closing time from 8:30 PM to 10 PM.
The change will be implemented starting August 17 at 4,000 of its 4,700 stores.
Walmart was not the only retailer to cut their hours as the pandemic spread. Target, Home Depot, Kohl's, and Walgreens also took similar measures to institute a more rigorous cleaning schedule to keep customers safe.
Earlier this spring, Walmart decided to reduce store hours as a way of keeping employees and customers safe—by using the extra time to enhance cleaning and sanitization efforts as well as restock the shelved.
Effective March 19, Walmart announced it’s locations reduced hours would be from 7 AM to 8:30 PM.
However, Walmart has now reversed the decision. A Walmart spokesperson told USA Today, "As we continue reopening our operations, the health and safety of our associates, customers and communities will guide our decisions."
"By August 17, more than 4,000 of our 4,700 Walmart stores will expand their closing time from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., providing customers with more options to shop for the food, medicine and supplies they need," the source explained.
This is not the only update to Walmart's store policy. In late July, the retailer also implemented a face mask requirement for its customers--though, according to
Delish, store employees are not required to enforce this new rule.