Walmart temporarily shutters its Downey supercenter for COVID-19 sanitizing

Walmart temporarily shuttered yet another Southern California store Friday, Jan. 22 so third-party cleaning crews can sanitize the building to guard against the spread of COVID-19.

In a move that has become increasingly routine, the company’s Downey supercenter at 9001 Apollo Way was closed at 2 p.m. and will reopen at 7 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 24.

It marks the mega retailer’s 10th such closure in recent days, including the second store shutdown in Downey.

Stores like Walmart are typically closed when employees test positive or are exposed to COVID-19, although the company declined to provide details, citing privacy concerns.

Friday’s closure follows the temporary shutdown of a Walmart in Orange on Monday. That location has since reopened.

Prior to that, the mega retailer temporarily shuttered a supercenter in Long Beach, a Downey Neighborhood Market, two supercenters in Torrance and Huntington Beach, a Sam’s Club in South Gate and additional stores in Paramount, Anaheim and San Clemente.

The temporary closures augment the company’s other safeguards, including sneeze guards at registers, temperature checks and mandatory mask-wearing for employees and shoppers. Walmart has also placed social distancing signs throughout its stores and has enacted an emergency leave policy for workers who are unable or uncomfortable coming to work.

Walmart said its place within the communities it serves is considered essential, as it provides customers with food, medicine and other needed items during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Everything we’re doing is for the well-being of our associates and customers, and in consideration of guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and health experts,” the company said in a statement.

Walmart said it will continue working closely with elected and local health officials, adjusting how it serve communities while keeping the health and safety of customers and employees top of mind.

Figures from the California Department of Health Services showed 19,673 new cases of coronavirus Friday, bringing the statewide total to 3,039,044. More than 35,000 Californians have died of the virus.

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