Hy-Vee announced today that, in response to customer requests, it will be reserving one hour of shopping time prior to its new opening time each day for customers considered “high-risk.”

The reserved hour will be from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., seven days a week, and is designed for these customers:

-Ages 60 and older
-Expectant mothers
-Anyone with an underlying health condition(s) that makes him/her more susceptible to serious illness

Pharmacies in most Hy-Vee locations will also be extending their hours so they can serve this group of customers from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. These locations include pharmacies inside grocery stores, Mainstreet locations, Dollar Fresh stores and Hy-Vee Drugstores.

All other customers are asked to please respect this hour reserved for these at-risk customers, and limit their shopping to Hy-Vee’s new store hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Fareway stores have added an hour from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for senior citizens and those who have compromised immune systems to shop before the general public as well, and will close at 7 p.m. Monday through Saturdays.

Dollar General stores are strongly encouraging their first hour of operations to be dedicated to senior shoppers. Additionally, all stores will close an hour earlier in order for employees to clean, restock shelves, as well as for their health and wellbeing.