NORTHAMPTON — Senior citizens will be allowed to do early morning grocery shopping at Stop & Shop supermarkets beginning Thursday.

Company President Gordon Reid announced in a memo released Monday that people age 60 and over will be the lone customers allowed to shop between 6 and 7:30 a.m. daily.

The decision to have the early shopping opportunity comes as part of the store’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. People 60 and over are considered the most vulnerable population to coronavirus based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We’re making the decision to offer this every day of the week to allow for community members in this age category to shop in a less crowded environment, which better enables social distancing,” Reid wrote. “They’ll also be shopping prior to any other customers entering.”

At local stores, including in Northampton, Hadley and Holyoke, there will be a designated, marked entrance. No IDs will need to be shown, but Stop & Shop officials are hoping that people respect their older neighbors.

“Store associates do reserve the right to ask customers to leave if they are not a member of this age group,” Reid wrote.

Most stores are now open 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m and delivery service is continuing.