H-E-B is installing protective shields at all checkout lanes to ensure social distancing

H-E-B shoppers will notice a difference at checkout lanes starting soon as the grocer begins to install protective partitions company wide to ensure social distancing as the U.S. tackles the coronavirus and grocery stores experience an influx of customers. less H-E-B shoppers will notice a difference at checkout lanes starting soon as the grocer begins to install protective partitions company wide to ensure social distancing as the U.S. tackles the coronavirus and ... more Photo: Courtesy, H-E-B Photo: Courtesy, H-E-B Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close H-E-B is installing protective shields at all checkout lanes to ensure social distancing 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

H-E-B shoppers will notice a difference at checkout lanes starting soon as the grocer begins to install protective partitions in its stores to ensure social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. In recent weeks, H-E-B has experienced an influx of shoppers worried about the virus.

Houston stores were the first to have the shields installed, and the protective measure will be rolled out in all stores in the coming days to keep customers and employees safe during transactions, H-E-B told mySA.com.

The partitions are an added safety measure to go "above and beyond" the strict protocols H-E-B employees are already operating under, which includes sanitizing multiple times and continuing to disinfect work stations.

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Along with the social distancing protocols, H-E-B stores continue to enforce limits on certain products to ensure the supply chain remains strong.

Julie Bedingfield, an H-E-B spokesperson, said she has seen firsthand that the warehouses are "packed" with supplies. H-E-B wants to remind customers to be prepared, but there is no need to panic as the grocery chain is "prepared for the long term."

"It's just as matter of getting trucks back to stores as quickly as customers are shopping in stores," Bedingfield said.

Bedingfield encourages customers to stay up to date via the online H-E-B Newsroom.

Madalyn Mendoza is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @MaddySkye