In an effort to improve social distancing measures amid the coronavirus pandemic, Walmart announced Friday more changes to its store’s policies.

Beginning Saturday, the company will limit the number of customers who can be in a store at once, Walmart Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dacona Smith said in a blog post.

“Stores will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly 20% of a store’s capacity,” Smith said.

Store associates will mark a queue at a single-entry door, direct new shoppers there, and admit them one-by-one and count them as they do so, he said.

“Once a store reaches its capacity, customers will be admitted inside on a 1-out-1-in basis,” he said.

One-way movement through aisles will also be instituted in an unspecified amount of stores using floor markers and direction from workers.

“We expect this to help more customers avoid coming into close contact with others as they shop,” Smith said.

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He said the company has as already expanded its paid leave policies, closing its stores overnight for cleanings and restocking and installed sneeze guards and social distance markers.

Gloves and masks have also been made available to employees who want them and their temperatures are taken when they report to work, he added.

Since the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak supermarkets across the state have been limiting the purchase of items, such as hand sanitizer and toilet paper, and have been of shifting their hours to accommodate the safety of employees and shoppers.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.