In recent days store shelves have been looking increasingly bare, with people panic buying and stockpiling items.
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way people shop, with people stocking up on essential items in case they are stuck indoors for a long period of time.
NHS guidelines currently urges those who are sick to stay home for seven days, and those who live with other people, 14 days.
In a bid to make sure everyone is able to buy what they need, various supermarkets have put limits on essential items.
They have also changed opening hours so that the vulnerable have a better chance at buying items before they sell out.
Here are the stockpiling rules you need to abide by, as well as the reduced opening hours.
Tesco:
Tesco, Britain’s biggest supermarket, has suspended all-night opening hours for the big stores.
They have also given vulnerable and elderly customers priority between 9am and 10am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Tesco said in a statement: “Tesco store colleagues can’t work from home and a good number of them will need to respond to personal or family challenges connected with dealing with COVID-19.
“So we would please ask that you understand the challenging environment in which we are all working.
“If you do go in-store and want to say thank you, then I’m sure they’d appreciate it.”
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For individual opening times, use the Tesco store locator tool.
Asda:
Asda has said it is restricting customers to three items on all food.
Asda is also asking shoppers to “please shop responsibly so we can help make sure there is enough to go around”.
As well as reducing the opening hours of all 24-hour stores, it has also closed all its cafes and pizza counters.
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For individual store opening times, please check the Asda store locator tool.
Aldi:
Aldi is limiting customers to four items of any one product in a bid to make sure there is enough for everyone.
The supermarkets opening hours have shortened slightly, and all stores will close at 8pm.
Sunday opening hours will be the same as usual, apart from in Scotland where stores will close at 6pm.
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Check specific opening hours on the Aldi website.
Lidl:
Lidl hasn’t officially changed its opening hours, but is asking everyone to “be considerate in the way they shop”.
A Twitter update continued: “We understand your concerns but buying more than is needed can sometimes mean that others will be left without. There is enough for everyone if we all work together.”
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To find out specific opening times, check the Lidl website.
Morrisons:
Morrisons has shortened opening hours as is closing all shops at 8pm.
Stores have limits on toilet roll, cleaning products and some health and beauty items.
Morrisons is also dedicating the hour between 9am and 10am, Monday to Saturday, so that vulnerable and the elderly can get help in store.
To find out exact Morrisons opening times, check their website.
Sainsbury’s:
Sainsbury’s has closed all cafes, meat, fish and pizza counters.
It has also introduced a limit of three of any grocery product, and maximum two of the most popular products.
This includes toilet roll, soap and UHT milk.
The first hour of their opening hours is set aside for the elderly and vulnerable.
Use Sainsbury’s store locator tool to find specific opening times.
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