Wawa Adds Designated ‘High-Risk’ Shopping Hour at All NJ Stores

Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa announced Friday that it is adding an hour designated for shopping by individuals who are considered to be at high-risk for developing complications from the novel coronavirus in all of its New Jersey stores.

“Every day, all New Jersey Wawa stores will designate the hour from 2 to 3 p.m. to accommodate those high-risk individuals and respectfully ask all others to respect this time set aside for these groups,” the company said in a news release posted on its website.

Wawa also announced that in accordance with an executive order by New Jersey governor Phil Murphy it will play recorded announcements and post “prominent signage in all of its 255 New Jersey stores notifying customers that protective face masks or coverings are required when out in public and while shopping at an essential business.”

The company said that in accordance with the mandate, all of its associates in its New Jersey stores “will be wearing masks.”

Wawa previously announced that it would be providing masks to all of its employees “who would feel more comfortable wearing them,” however there is no mandate in Pennsylvania for retail store employees and customers to wear masks. Instead, Gov. Tom Wolf recommended last week that anyone in public wear a face mask to help protect themselves and prevent the spread of the virus.

Wawa said last week that it has also followed CDC social distancing guidelines for staff and customers by developing in-store announcements, signage and markings designed to serve as reminders to individuals to maintain a distance of six feet from one another.

Store checkout areas have also been retrofitted with clear plastic barriers (also known as sneezeguards) to help contain the disease.

On Thursday, Wawa announced that one of its stores in Hilltown Township, Bucks County near Souderton was temporarily closed for cleaning and disinfecting after an associate who last worked there earlier this month tested positive for COVID-19.

The store has since reopened, however as of Friday four other Wawa stores–including one in Virginia, one in Delaware and two in New Jersey–were closed for cleaning because employees who recently worked in them have tested positive for the illness.

“Wawa remains committed to delivering our purpose of fulfilling lives every day, while continuing to monitor and make adjustments as needed,” the company said in Friday’s news release. “Please visit Wawa.com for details and updates on our store status, processes and measures taken to support our communities and ensure the health of our customers and associates.”

Wawa has more than 900 stores and employs approximately 5,000 people in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.