Sainsbury's is lifting restrictions on purchases - but only one member of your household can shop at one time

Sainsbury’s has now brought in extra measures in store and online, to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Speaking about the changes put in place to keep customers and employees safe during the coronavirus epidemic, the supermarket's Chief Executive Mike Coupe said, “We continue to make changes in line with government guidelines and in response to feedback from you [the customer] and our colleagues.”

What are the new measures?

To ensure customers remain a safe distance from both other shoppers and staff when visiting Sainsbury's shops, the retailer has now introduced queuing systems outside stores. Customers are asked to stand at least two metres apart, to prevent the spread of the virus.

The company has placed clear markings on the floors by its checkouts to clarify what constitutes a safe distance to its customers.

Additionally, to help cut down queuing times to enter stores, restrictions are also in place to ensure only one adult per household is shopping in store at a time - a policy which is being enforced by staff.

However parents who have no option but to bring their children with them on their visits will not be prevented, so long as they are the sole adult in their group.

Chief Executive Mike Coupe said, “Our store teams will be asking groups with more than one adult to choose one adult to shop and will ask other adults to wait. Children are of course welcome if they are not able to stay at home.”

Plastic screens have been installed in every supermarket at all manned checkouts, to protect checkout staff who are constantly coming into close contact with customers as they pay.

These screens are also being installed at the shop’s Argos collection points.

No more empty shelves

After a wave of panic buying led to many empty shelves across the nation, the retailer has announced that it has begun to notice a change in its customers’ buying habits.