By Sarah Nassauer

Walmart Inc. will start taking temperatures of U.S. store workers at the start of each shift and offering masks for those employees who wish to wear them, the company said Tuesday.

"We are in the process of sending infrared thermometers to all locations, which could take up to three weeks," the company said in a blog post. Employees with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be sent home with pay and unable to return until fever free for three days.

The company said it would take one to two weeks for the masks to arrive at its stores. "They will be high-quality masks, but not N95 respirators -- which should be reserved for at-risk healthcare workers," the company said.

Walmart is the country's largest private employer with around 1.5 million workers. It's stores have largely remained open in the U.S., China and other areas throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The company has been closing its U.S. locations overnight to allow for cleaning, installing sneeze guards at registers and has promoted social distancing with signs.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 31, 2020 08:40 ET (12:40 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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