Costco and other stores are relaxing coronavirus safety policies. That’s risky

New York CNN Business — Costco is bringing back free food samples. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Meanwhile, a spokesperson at Midwest grocer Hy-Vee said that “as the eight-state region that we serve begins to ‘open’ back up, we are expanding the times we are open and returning to normal store hours at many of our locations.” A spokesperson for Target, which has reopened Starbucks locations in some its stores, said it is taking “a careful market-by-market approach, and in some cases store-by-store, to ensure we prioritize the health and safety of our team and guests.” Starbucks at Target stores offer drinks and other items to go and “follow all of the current safety measures within our stores.” The incentive to go back to normal Stores have strong financial incentive to return to regular procedures, retail analysts said. “These retailers established safety procedures and protocols quickly for their operations, so now they are likely trying to find extra revenue and margin by relaxing controls wherever they think they can,” said Chris Walton, a former Target executive and founder of consulting firm Red Archer Retail. “Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve expanded our supply chain, enhanced cleaning procedures in our stores and hired more than 100,000 new workers,” a Kroger spokesperson said. “These steps have allowed us to expand store hours in select areas to safely meet the evolving needs of our customers as the country moves toward reopening.” Galanti, the chief financial officer at Costco, said the company could safely handle reducing restrictions on member limits, “helped in part by adding the evening hours back.” And Target said it was taking measures to ensure safe returns of items.