As COVID cases drop, Harris Teeter grocery store hours are changing again

Harris Teeter grocery stores will return to previous store closing hours this Wednesday, the supermarket chain said this week.

Last month, Harris Teeter temporarily shortened its store hours, closing at 9 p.m. at all but 13 locations to help employees restock and clean stores as COVID-19 cases rose due to the omicron variant. The change affected the more than 60 Charlotte-area stores.

With the latest change, all stores will close at 10 p.m., according to the Matthews-based grocer’s website.

The number of reported COVID-19 cases has been falling in North Carolina. On Tuesday, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 2,888 new COVID cases, down from 3,383 the day before.

However, positive test rates remain high. As of Feb. 13, 17.8% of COVID tests were reported positive. The target rate by health officials is 5% or lower to slow the spread of the virus.

In September, Harris Teeter also shortened its hours to 9 p.m. citing labor shortage issues. The company website continued to list the temporary hours.

Earlier this month, Harris Teeter joined a growing list of pharmacies offer free non-surgical N95 masks, while supplies last, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Pharmacy hours vary at each store, typically closing earlier than the grocery store, according to the company.

Harris Teeter, a subsidiary of Kroger Co. based in Ohio, has about 35,000 workers in more than 250 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.

A Harris Teeter spokesperson did not immediately respond for comment Tuesday.

This story was originally published February 15, 2022 at 2:14 PM.