Coronavirus FAQs

Publix cares about the health of our associates and customers. Since the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first announced its concerns about coronavirus, we have remained in close contact with federal and state agencies. We are continually monitoring developments and updated guidance from the CDC and other health officials. Additionally, we are taking actions across our operations to help safeguard our customers, associates and communities. For more details, please see a message about coronavirus from Publix CEO Todd Jones.

We've adjusted our hours to better serve our customers, give our store teams time to conduct additional preventive sanitation and restock product on shelves. For the latest information on store hours, please visit the Publix Coronavirus Store Hours page.

Publix is focused on providing all of our customers with the food and supplies they need. For those unable to visit our stores or who prefer to shop from home, we offer Instacart delivery in all of our operating areas.

As an essential service provider as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Publix Super Markets is exempt from “Shelter in Place” and "Safer at Home" orders. This exemption is necessary to provide critical food and supplies to customers. Our stores, manufacturing and distribution facilities will continue to operate as normal. Publix has a responsibility to serve the customers in our communities, and we will continue to do so.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, so do local ordinances, guidelines and recommendations. We continue to monitor and comply with facial covering and occupancy requirements of local ordinances as they are put in place.

Publix delivery and curbside pickup is powered by Instacart. Pickup and delivery times have been adjusted to align with current store hours. Please know that your pickup or delivery time options, as well as product availability and substitutions, may be impacted due to extremely high demand. Our teams are working tirelessly to restock items you need. Please visit www.publix.com/shop for more information.

Due to high demand and supply shortages, we may experience low inventory of certain products. Our teams are working with our suppliers and looking for replenishment opportunities to restock key items as quickly as possible. We are monitoring this evolving situation and we continue to work diligently to serve you to the best of our ability.

Due to unusually high demand and supply shortages, quantity limits per household have been applied to certain products. Additionally, each store has the flexibility to apply product limits based on need. We are not able to issue rain checks for out of stock products at this time, as we do not have a time frame for when certain products will be available.

Our teams continue to work tirelessly to keep our stores open and shelves stocked. As circumstances evolve, we’ll adjust policies accordingly to best serve our customers. We’re suspending refunds on products purchased during this declared emergency and encourage customers to avoid stockpiling and to only purchase what they need. We will continue to honor our Publix Guarantee for products that do not meet our quality standards. We’re in this together, and must take into consideration the needs of all customers during this unprecedented time.

Publix is following the CDC guidance for cleaning, sanitation, and disinfection including increased focus on high-touch surfaces. Throughout each day, there is an associate responsible for cleaning pin pads. In many areas, we already have a heightened disinfection response program that includes our restrooms. Our adjusted store hours are also providing more time for associates to complete additional cleaning activities.

Due to high demand and limited supply of sanitizing wipes in certain store locations, we have changed our cart sanitizing. All stores will have an associate at a station with sanitizer and cloths to wipe down carts during store hours.

As we continue to monitor and follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance, we have made the decision, beginning Monday, April 20, to require associates to wear face coverings for the duration of this national emergency. Associates in positions who are not normally required to wear gloves may voluntarily wear them, if they can safely perform their job duties.

Publix is providing face coverings for all associates and gloves for select associates, while inventory is available. Inventory is already scarce, and we anticipate it to become even more limited in the very near future as existing supplies continue to be reserved for health care and medical professionals. For the same reason, disposable plastic gloves can only be distributed to associates in high-customer contact areas (Pharmacy and Customer Service) while supplies last. Once Publix’s supplies of face coverings are depleted, associates are required to provide their own face covering to wear to work. Associates in areas required to wear gloves will continue having access to disposable gloves in their department. Associates in other areas are permitted to wear their own commercially available disposable non-latex gloves.

Gloves may be required by local ordinance. However, it’s important to understand all official advice from public health organizations state washing hands frequently, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding touching of the eyes, nose, and mouth are the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Requiring face coverings and allowing the use of gloves does not mean associates should discontinue or reduce these practices.

At this time, our focus for email is providing our customers critical information about store operations and hours. You can always find the current Weekly Ad at Publix.com. When the time is appropriate, we will resume normal email delivery.

As of April 4, Publix does offer contactless pay at all its stores. This is one more measure Publix is taking to protect the health and well-being of its customers and associates during the coronavirus pandemic. Customers can make a contactless payment by placing a smartphone or contactless pay-enabled credit or debit card near a contactless-enabled device, rather than swiping or inserting a card into the PIN pad. The most commonly known forms of contactless payments that will be accepted are Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Please visit the Contactless Payments FAQs for more information.

Publix is hiring 2,000 retail and distribution associates to help support increased demand. Positions are available at stores throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia and at nine distribution centers located in Boynton Beach, Deerfield Beach, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Miami, Orlando, and Sarasota, Florida; Lawrenceville, Georgia; and McCalla, Alabama. Visit Publix.com/careers for more details.

Plexiglass partitions have been installed in our checkout areas, customer service and pharmacies companywide. This barrier between cashiers and customers, in addition to frequent disinfections in high-touch surface areas, will offer extra protection for customers and associates.

To recognize the efforts of our associates during this extraordinary time, Publix has announced permanent pay increases in recognition of their commitment to serving our customers and communities. Publix will accelerate merit pay reviews for associates and will offer recognition pay, an additional opportunity to increase associate pay rates for those meeting performance expectations. New rates will be effective April 11th. Pay rates will vary by associate based on their performance.

Our store managers have been given the ability to limit customer traffic at their discretion if they feel the capacity of their store is no longer able to support social distancing. Some locations are required to limit customer traffic in compliance with local ordinances.

The health and well-being of our customers, associates and communities are our top priority. We have posted in-store signage, visual reminders of appropriate spacing at registers and provide recurring public address announcements, reminding customers and associates of social distancing. Additionally, to help with customer traffic flow, we have added one-way directional markings to our aisles. This will allow customers and associates to better distance themselves while in the aisle.

Our store managers will continually monitor customer traffic in their store. If at any time they believe their store is approaching a level of customer traffic that can no longer support social distancing, or they are under a local order that required limited customer traffic, they will begin implementing customer limits.