Macy’sRetailers are experiencing staff shortages and coronavirus cases in the United States, which is causing store hours to be cut.

Macy’s systemwide hours for department stores will change from Monday to Thursday to 11 a.m.-8 p.m. during the month of January. Macy’s site previously stated that some stores would have opened at 10 AM and closed at 9 PM.

A company spokesperson stated that store hours would remain the same from Friday to Sunday. The Macy’s staff in-store will work the same hours as usual, she added. According to the retailer’s website, it operates full-line Macy’s departments stores (516) and 33 Bloomingdale’s shops (33)

In an emailed statement, the spokesperson stated that she will monitor the situation closely and adhere to the CDC guidelines. She also suggested ways for enhanced safety and wellbeing procedures.

Macy’s did not comment on whether more workers were testing positive for Covid-19.

This Monday the U.S. reported 1 million new Covid infections. This record number of daily infections could have been increased by lags in data reporting over Christmas and New Year’s. However, highly contagious Covid variants may also be contributing to this increase. Americans are more susceptible to spreading the virus if they travel with family members and friends during the holidays. Studies have shown that Covid vaccines may not be as effective in fighting omicron than the Delta strain or other variants.

The latest Covid wave is fueled in part by the extremely contagious variant of omicron, and many retailers and restaurants across the country have begun to develop new strategies for dealing with them. Large-box retailers WalmartTemporarily shut nearly 60 U.S. storesLast month, in hotspots for coronavirus to sanitize.

AppleHowever, a limited number of shops within the New York metropolitan area offer service to. including its Fifth Avenue flagship. According to its website, the electronics retailer cut its operating hours as well as restricted access for customers inside its stores.

Craig Rowley is a senior client associate at Korn Ferry and head of the firm’s retail practice, said the recent wave of Covid cases putting staff out of work has exacerbated what was already a shortage of labor in the retail and restaurant industries.

According to him, the good news is that most retailers made it through the festive season without being infected. Mid-December saw a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in New York City.

Rowley stated that retailers prefer to be able to plan, anticipate and organize their business.

An employee working at the New York City office of The NikeLocation on the Upper East Side stated that their store hours will be reduced from 11 a.m.-7. p.m. for this week. An AthletaA store worker on the phone said that the Upper East Side location is closing now at 7 p.m. and not 8 p.m.

Gap, Nike’s parent company and Athleta didn’t respond immediately to inquiries about hours of operation.

Rowley said that adjustments to sales might not have an impact on sales if retailers are able operate efficiently on weekends.

“Most retail transactions [in stores]He said that weekend hours are best. A lot of restaurants have stopped being open on weekends. … You can place an order online for something that someone really requires. It will be delivered right to your door the following day.