Costco to end senior hours, COVID operating hours for healthcare workers and first responders
Costco will soon drop its senior hours after holding them for more than two years amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The special operating hours will be in place until April 17 for members 60 and older, healthcare workers and first responders, the wholesale club said Monday in an update on its COVID updates webpage. The hours have also been for members with disabilities or those who are immunocompromised.
"As of April 18, 2022, Costco will no longer be offering special shopping hours for members ages 60 or older, healthcare workers and first responders," Costco said in the update.
Like many of the nation's grocery stores, Costco started holding the hours in March 2020 to help those the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considered the most vulnerable and at-risk for COVID-19.
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This is not the first time Costco has planned to drop or reduce the dedicated shopping time.
Last July, the retailer planned to end senior hours but then reversed course to reduce them from five days a week to twice-weekly events as infections and hospitalizations were rising nationwide. Since the week of July 26, most clubs have held the hours from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
In July 2020, Costco also initially planned to reduce hours from five days to twice weekly but changed plans at that time "due to an increase in COVID-19 cases."
The membership club has not allowed guests who do not meet its criteria to shop during the designated time.
"Members who do not wish to shop during regular hours are welcome to visit Costco.com for all their shopping needs," Costco said in the latest update.
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Costco hours for seniors and clubs with exceptions
Costco's designated hour for senior shoppers, which has also included members with disabilities or people who are immunocompromised, is now being held twice a week from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at warehouses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico with limited exceptions until April 17, 2022.
Find all locations' hours at Costco.com/warehouse-locations. Members and guests who don't meet the criteria will not be admitted. The following clubs are the exceptions listed on the COVID-19 updates page:
California Costco club with exceptions
Culver City: Special operating hours are 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday.
Hawaii Costco club with an exception
Iwilei (Honolulu): Special operating hours are 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday.
New York Costco clubs with exceptions
Brooklyn: Special operating hours are 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday.
Westbury: Special operating hours are 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday.
Costco special operating hours for healthcare, first responders
Costco says on its COVID updates page that members who are "healthcare workers (which includes pharmacists and all hospital employees with a hospital ID) and first responders (police officers, EMTs and firefighters) may enter the warehouse during Special Operating Hours, as well as regular operating hours."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Costco hours 2022: COVID senior hours to end in April for members 60+
