Coronavirus: Supermarkets introduce protective screens at checkouts

ASDA and Tesco have written to customers to let them that know perspex screens are going up to shield staff from infection, with other big retailers understood to be doing likewise.

A message from ASDA CEO Roger Burnley states: “Perspex screens will soon be fitted at checkouts. Until then, please keep your distance from our colleagues.”

He also set out some of the other measures being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which include extra staff at entrances to prevent stores becoming overcrowded and floor markers reminding people to observe the two-metre distancing, and announced that workers’ efforts during the crisis would be recognised with an extra week’s pay in June.

“With the rapidly changing landscape of the UK, it is important we look after each other with the means we have available to us. This is especially true of our key workers at ASDA,” added Mr Burnley.

Tesco CEO Dave Lewis, meanwhile, said it was looking to increase the amount of delivery slots available, had up to double the usual amounts of key essentials arriving and had already recruited 12,500 of the 20,000 additional temporary workers it is bringing in to meet the demand.

Supermarkets have already introduced restricted hours and dedicated times for vulnerable shoppers and NHS workers in response to the coronavirus crisis, and the contactless payment limit is set to rise to £45 from April 1.