Walmart Executive Vice President Dacona Smith announced Saturday a nationwide adjustment in operating hours beginning Sunday.

The change is part of the retail giant’s approach to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. unless they are already operating under shortened hours, according to Smith.

“This will help ensure associates are able to stock the products our customers are looking for and to perform cleaning and sanitizing,” she said in a company statement.

Maricopa’s Walmart Supercenter is typically open 24 hours. The store posted on its Facebook page, with an apology, it would be “temporarily closed” tonight from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

“As we make this change, associates will continue to work the hours and shifts they are scheduled, and our supply chain and trucking fleet will continue to move products and deliver to stores on their regular schedules,” Smith stated. “As a reminder, we have a temporary COVID-19 emergency leave policy to support associates at this unprecedented time.”

Tuesday, the company announced it is monitoring the coronavirus situation daily to determine best practices for customers and employees.

“We are in close communication with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as other health organizations, and are following their guidelines as well as the advice of our own Chief Medical Officer,” the statement read.

That included “increased associate focus on cleaning,” a task that is done daily.

The company also said it was working to keep stores stocked and prices fair. Store managers were given discretion in the management of inventory, with authority to limit quantities of high-demand produces such as toilet paper and sanitizer.

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