Whole Foods Lines Intensify After NYC Stores Limit Customer Count to 50

Whole Foods limits the number of customers in its stores as a precautionary measure

Whole Foods in New York City is now limiting the number of customers allowed inside its grocery stores following two busy weeks of shopping amid new social distancing guidelines from city and state officials. The upscale grocery store has instated a 50 customer limit at all 13 of its New York City locations to minimize the risk of exposure, a worker at the Union Square branch confirmed. Following the new guideline, the Post spotted a line of 75 people stretching down the block of the Whole Foods at 95 East Houston Street, at Bowery, where the maximum capacity is 500 people.

Whole Foods had previously set aside an hour every morning for seniors to shop during the coronavirus pandemic. But with rising case numbers in New York City, Governor Andrew Cuomo is now recommending that vulnerable populations do not leave their homes at all, even to purchase groceries. Individuals who are not experiencing symptoms can still leave their homes but are encouraged to do so only for essential outings, including to visit pharmacies, liquor stores, and grocery stores.

In other news:

— Beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, restaurants across the United States — including Olmsted in Brooklyn and Williamsburg’s all-day cafe Gertie — will be offering free meals for service industry workers who have been laid off as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

— FreshDirect will donate 400 boxes of groceries a day to Queens residents over the next four weeks. The new initiative, called “Operation 5 Borough Food Drive,” is a part of a larger city-wide project that will distribute 2,000 boxes of groceries every day to New Yorkers in need.

— New York City hospitals are now pumping COVID-19 patients with high doses of Vitamin C, which has been shown to be helpful in early trials.

— Our sourdough starter is officially today years old: