UPDATE: 5th ShopRite employee in N.J. tests positive for coronavirus

More than two dozen ShopRites throughout New Jersey are limiting the number of customers allowed inside at one time to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

At least 27 stores posted announcements on their Facebook pages about the new policy, which would restrict the number of customers to “roughly 30% of the store’s regular maximum occupancy.” A security guard stationed at the store’s entrance will track customers entering and leaving.

“Please be patient and kind to one another as you may be asked to queue in a single line outside the store. We appreciate your understanding in helping us keep everyone in the community safe,” the statement reads.

The participating stores include:

Absecon

Bernardsville-

Chatham

Chester

East Orange

Egg Harbor Township

Elizabeth

Garwood

Galloway

Hammonton

Hillsborough

Vineland

Livingston

Marmora

Millburn

Greater Morristown

Old Bridge

Rio Grande

Somerset

Somers Point

Stirling

Union

Washington

Watchung

West Orange

The new rules come after at least four ShopRite employees in New Jersey tested positive for the coronavirus, including at the Old Bridge, Garwood, Morristown and Newark. Each store underwent a deep cleaning afterwards.

Grocery stores have also suspended deli services and food sampling and installed plastic shields at cash registers in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

In New Jersey, there are at least 13,386 cases of coronavirus and 161 deaths, state officials have said.

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Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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