Coronavirus News: 4 Kroger Employees Die From COVID-19

As grocery workers remain on the front line during the coronavirus pandemic, four Kroger (KR) workers have reportedly died from the virus. Kroger is one of the largest supermarket chains in the world, with nearly 2,800 stores and about 460,000 employees, according to its website.

The employees worked at four separate stores located in Northville, Troy, Grosse Pointe, and Livonia, Michigan, Kroger confirmed to USA Today.

A Kroger spokesperson told the news outlet that it is “deeply saddened to learn of the passing of four Kroger family members. We are mourning along with their families during this extraordinarily difficult time.”

Kroger will reportedly provide mental health and grief counselors to employees. The company said it is committed to keeping its employees and customers safe during the coronavirus crisis and has implemented a number of store changes to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Kroger is now limiting the number of shoppers in its stores and is providing masks and gloves to its employees. The company has added Plexiglass partitions at its checkout lanes and added social distancing decals on the floor to remind customers about staying six feet apart.

“Kroger's introduction of customer capacity limits is one more way we are doing our part to flatten the curve while operating as an essential business, providing our customers with access to fresh, affordable food and products,” Mary Ellen Adcock, Kroger's senior vice president of operations, said in a statement. “During this national pandemic, we are committed to adopting preventive measures to help protect the safety and health of our associates, customers and communities.”

The grocery chain is also using overhead announcements to remind customers about good hygiene practices and social distancing when shopping at its stores. Kroger has also changed its operating hours across all its brands to allow for more time to clean stores and restock shelves while introducing special hours for seniors and vulnerable shoppers.

Shares of Kroger stock were up 2.43% as of 10:21 a.m. EDT on Tuesday.