Local retailers Price Chopper and Walmart say they are working to keep their shelves stocked, increase sanitation efforts and will not give in to price gouging as the country deals with COVID-19.

Price Chopper President and CEO Scott Grimmett said that “during these challenging times, the health and safety of our teammates and guests remains our top priority.”

“Rest assured that we are diligently monitoring our areas of operation for any confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) and implementing plans to minimize the spread of this virus not only in our stores, but in your communities,” he said.

In addition to its existing sanitation procedures, Price Chopper has bolstered its everyday sanitation efforts to ensure “high touch” areas are sanitized frequently, created internal messaging to keep its workers educated on illness prevention, and have contingency plans in place for business continuity should they be needed, he said.

He said that they are working to keep high-demand products in stock (sanitizers, disinfectants, OTC medication, paper products), though some remain in very limited supply.

“As soon as the products that may be missing from our shelves become available in the marketplace, we will make them available to you. In order to get these high-demand items into the homes of as many of our customers as possible, we will begin to implement purchase limits on certain items.

He reminded those who can’t come into the store to shop that they can use the Instacart home delivery service, which is available in most areas. Visit pricechopper.com to see options for delivery in.

“With help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as our own Chief Medical Officer, we’re developing preventative measures to maintain a clean, healthy environment in our stores,” Walmart said an email.

The email from Walmart is as follows:

“First and foremost, we’ve ramped up cleaning efforts. Stores are cleaned daily, with sanitizing solutions used in high-touch, high-traffic areas. We also have associates dedicated to cleaning key areas throughout the day, and we’re sending additional supplies they can use at registers and on shopping carts.

“Second, we’re dedicated to keeping stores stocked and prices fair. We’re working hard to replenish cleaning supplies, paper products, and other in-demand items as quickly as possible—and at our everyday low prices. We’re taking a firm stance against price gouging from third-party sellers, so if you see it happening, please report your concern here.

“Third, we’ve asked associates who aren’t feeling well to refrain from coming in. We’ve also shared a new policy with them that provides extra flexibility to stay home, as well as pay options and support if they are affected by the virus.

“Finally, we want to remind you that there are lots of great ways to shop with Walmart. You may want to consider trying online delivery or store pickup options, as well as our app’s Walmart Pay feature, which you can use when checking out at the register.”