Walmart and other big retailers limit number of customers

Mid-November Covid-19 responses from large retailers on limiting the number of customers allowed in their stores, and limiting how many items people can buy at one time.

Walmart, imposing new restrictions today on just how many customers can enter its stores.

And..

Remember those empty store shelves early in the pandemic?

As blayne alexander reports... it's happening again.

With covid cases around the country going up many retail stores are working to keep crowds down.

Vo to graphic will pull from statement: starting today walmart will begin counting customers who enter and exit the store "out of an abundance of caution" - the retail giant says - a way to keep capacity at no more than 20 percent.

And at other big name stores more changes: at costco customers with a medical condition were once exempt from the store's mask policy.

Now required to wear a face shield to enter.

Sot: mos 1 i'm just very careful, and i just won't go in some place if it's crowded or if it doesn't feel safe.

Ugc photo/video: bare shelves: the changes come amidst scenes like these -- shelves stripped bare.

A reminder of the panic buying in the early days of the pandemic and triggering many of the same precautions.

Remember those limits on products like toilet paper and sanitizing wipes?

Now - walmart - kroger wegman's and publix - are once again capping how much customers can buy.

Sot expert a lot of this is happening as we're in the height of the holiday season.

It's right ahead of thanksgiving, more people, of course, are going to grocery stores//////it's kind of a crazy time of year for the retail industry to be facing this getty image video timelapse gone are the days when holiday shopping looked like this... and while many of us have gotten used to this new way of shopping it will likely change again now - some stores are putting black friday deals online early - hoping to salvage sales this holiday season.

Graphic - sot blayne and expert: ba: do customers stand to lose out on some of the shoppers in the holiday rush this season?

Sot: i think there's an added appeal of going to the store you throw extra things in your cart/// just because more sales are shifting online, that doesn't mean retail is going to struggle because we're going to see pretty incredible online growth.

That was blayne alexander reporting.

Limits may vary based on where you live.

And in some cases..

Stores could be fined if they fail to impose capacity limits.#