Several UK supermarkets will be operating slightly shorter trading times over the next few months as the UK continues to battle the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Tesco, Waitrose and more have said branches will close earlier to allow staff enough time to keep shelves replenished.
But as panic-buying fever continues to sweep the nation, some supermarkets have gone one step further with special opening times to ensure the most vulnerable people can still access food during this difficult period.
It comes after 10 supermarkets issued a joint statement urging the public to be mindful of those at risk when stockpiling.
This week, the big four, Lidl and Aldi also introduced emergency rationing measures, limiting the number of items people can buy in stores and online.
We've got a full guide on what each supermarket is rationing during the coronavirus outbreak, here.
If you're classed as vulnerable, are elderly, or work for the National Health Service these are the supermarkets that have special provisions in place for you.
Marks & Spencer
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Coronavirus: Waitrose introduces 3 item limit on all goods and special hour for elderly
Marks & Spencer has said the first 60-minutes of trading will now be reserved for "older and vulnerable customers" as well as NHS and emergency workers.
The company also announced that its stores and business functions will remain open, with staff from its clothing and home teams joining food departments to help with increased demand.
M&S has also introduced a contact-free delivery service for all clothing, home, flowers, hampers and wine orders to allow for zero hand-to-hand contact – with the driver leaving the delivery at a customer’s door.
Waitrose
At Waitrose, sales on all items are now limited to three per person – with toilet roll capped to just two.
Coffee bars will also be closed until further notice – while some branches will also close early to allow staff to restock aisles with essential items.
The supermarket has also started a new shopping hour for the elderly and vulnerable, allowing them to pick up goods on a priority need basis.
The first hour will be dedicated to those in need, while the grocer said it is also working on a way to support its vulnerable customers who need food delivered to them.
Tesco
Britain's biggest supermarket has introduced a three per person limit on all items as part of latest efforts to curb panic-buying.
In a letter to staff, chief executive Dave Lewis wrote that all counter services will now be closed to focus on stocking shelves.
Lewis said the chain will encourage healthy shoppers to come to stores and free up online capacity, and make 9am to 10am an hour prioritised to vulnerable and elderly customers.
Sainsbury's
At Sainsbury's, the first hour of trading will now be dedicated to elderly and vulnerable customers, but stores will open for an hour longer so other shoppers do not miss out.
Sainsbury's added that customers over 70 and those with a disability will also have priority access to online delivery slots from Monday and the chain is also expanding its "click and collect" service.
Customers can now only buy a maximum of three of any grocery product and a maximum of two on the most popular items such as toilet roll, soap and UHT milk from Wednesday onward.
Iceland has announced that its stores will be opening every morning for an hour exclusively to the old and vulnerable.
A statement said: "This morning we saw a huge response to our priority store opening hours for the elderly and the vulnerable.
"Whilst it was positive to see such a reaction to the initiative, it highlighted the need for us to more to support the most vulnerable people in our communities as we face the challenges posed by Covid-19 together.
"As a result, we are encouraging our store managers to do this every day. We ask that all our customers bear these hours in mind when shopping with us, and help us to offer support to those who need it most."
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