PHOTOS: Shoppers navigate Giant’s senior hour during coronavirus pandemic

At the South Riding, Virginia, Giant grocery store in Loudoun County, there was a line of people waiting outside when the doors opened at 6 a.m. on Friday. The grocery chain, as well as others in the area, are offering special dedicated hours of shopping for those most vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic.

Seniors and those with compromised immune systems were handed a disinfectant wipe when they walked in with their carts. WTOP’s Neal Augenstein documented his trip to get what he needs for home during the special hour of shopping.

“I’m 60, so I’m allowed to be shopping with the other seniors,” Augenstein said. “I kept hoping someone would card me, but no such luck.”

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“Now I know why my wife married an older man — so I can shop early with other seniors and people with compromised immune systems at Giant Food and other stores,” said Neal Augenstein as he shopped during the special senior hour at the South Riding, Virginia, Giant grocery store in Loudoun County during the coronavirus pandemic. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

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“I’ve been carrying around baggies full of disinfectant wipes in my car. We have some left at home so I didn’t buy any. Don’t tell my wife!” Augenstein said. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

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A sign informs customers that they can only buy two cartons of eggs per customer at a Giant in Loudoun County, Virginia. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

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Employees at Giant handed a disinfectant wipe to each customer coming into Giant on Friday morning. Several shoppers were wearing masks. Cashiers wiped touch screens for each new customer. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

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Shoppers at Giant were limited to two packages of toilet paper per shopper. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

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Breakfast cereals are being stocked at a Giant in Loudoun County, Virginia, on Friday. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

Valerie Bonk

Valerie Bonk started working at WTOP in 2016 and has lived in Howard County, Maryland, her entire life. She's thrilled to be a reporter for WTOP telling stories on air. She works as both a television and radio reporter in the Maryland and D.C. areas.