Gulfport Walmart changes days closed for deep cleaning as COVID-19 numbers soar
A Walmart Neighborhood Market store on the Coast will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday for a COVID-19 deep cleaning.
The Gulfport location, at 11333 U.S. 49, will reopen at 6 a.m. Friday, August 12, according to an email notice.
This is the second time this location is closing for cleaning during the pandemic. It shut its doors in January during a COVID-19 peak.
Walmart said in a statement that the temporary closure will allow extra time for a third-party specialist to further sanitize the store and will also give employees additional time to restock shelves and prepare the store to reopen.
“When the store reopens on Friday, we will continue conducting associate health assessments, and all unvaccinated associates must still wear face coverings,” Walmart said.
Employees who are vaccinated receive a $150 bonus and up to three days paid leave, should they experience an adverse reaction to the vaccine.
New COVID cases hit another record high on Tuesday.
Walmart closed the D’Iberville store earlier this month for a similar deep cleaning, and shoppers returned in big numbers the day the store reopened.
Other stores and restaurants in South Mississippi have closed temporarily for cleaning, because they can’t hire enough staff or because their employees got the coronavirus or had to quarantine.
This story was originally published August 10, 2021 at 1:30 PM.
