Several supermarkets are planning to install protective screens to protect staff and customers at checkouts amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Morrisons and Aldi have already put up perspex screens in their stores and Morrisons is introducing signage to support social distancing, including floor stickers, posters and banners urging people to keep one trolley distance apart.
Paddy Lillis, general secretary of the shop workers union Usdaw, said: “We have increasing concerns about the safety and welfare of staff in stores. The scenes in stores over the weekend and behavior of some customers mean that supermarkets need to go further to protect the health, safety and welfare of shopworkers.
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“We are calling on retailers to continue to improve their stores and procedures to help protect staff. We also call on customers to stay calm, respect shopworkers and practice the necessary hygiene measures to help limit the spread of the virus. We all have to work together to get through this crisis. ”
The union called on supermarkets to limit the number of customers in stores, increase security, tell customers to shop alone if possible and only buy what they need and enforce essential workers’ and vulnerable people’s shopping hours.
It also urged customers to treat shopworkers with courtesy and respect, wash their hands before shopping and only buy what they need, as well as maintain physical distance and pay using contactless.
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