All hourly store, manufacturing, warehouse and transportation H-E-B employees are getting a $2-an-hour pay bump, the grocery chain announced Friday morning.

The news comes as H-E-B stores stay open to customers during the pandemic of the new coronavirus.

The increase in pay went into effect March 16 and will last through April 12, H-E-B officials said.

"We understand it is our responsibility to provide essential services to our customers during a time when so many other businesses have not been able to stay open or have had to scale back operations significantly," officials said in a statement.