Sainsbury's has announced a major change to its rules for shoppers in a bid to prevent overcrowding.
Supermarkets are usually very busy in the run up to Christmas, and this year is expected to be no different following Boris Johnson's last minute rule change for families meeting up over the festive period.
This has meant many people are needing to buy Christmas food they thought they wouldn't need.
In response, Sainsbury's has announced it is limiting shoppers to one person per trolley where possible, Manchester Evening News reports.
Posting on social media, Sainsbury's wrote: "Our stores will be really busy coming up to Christmas.
"To help us maintain social distancing for customers and colleagues and reduce queues, please shop alone wherever possible."
Sainsbury's has also increased the number of home delivery and Click and Collect slots available in a bid to persuade shoppers to stay at home, and are reportedly on track to offer 750,000 weekly slots.
Elderly and vulnerable customers have priority access to online orders, which will continue to be delivered without bags, which "allows us to serve more customers".
Any vulnerable customers who have been offered a slot and are unable to place their order online can make their order via phone.
From Thursday, November 5 Sainsbury's has been offering elderly and vulnerable customers and NHS and care workers with an NHS ID priority access to stores. This means they can skip the queue at any time.
Socially distanced queuing systems will remain in place outside stores, supported by a greeter at the front of stores at busier times of the day.
Customers are encouraged to follow government advice and wear a face covering (unless they are medically exempt), while all Sainsbury's staff now wear face coverings while in store, unless they are exempt according to government guidelines.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury's added: "As we keep working hard to feed the nation, we are focused on getting as much food and other essential items as possible onto shelves.
"We have a good supply of stock so please also continue to buy what you need for yourself and your family and there will be enough for everyone."
The new rules come into place after Boris Johnson yesterday announced new lockdown measures to tackle the rising Covid-19 case rates, including shutting non-essential shops in Tier 4 areas.
Today Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was "really worried" about the NHS which was now treating almost as many hospital patients with the disease as it was at the peak of the first wave of the pandemic in April.
"The new variant is out of control and we need to bring it under control," he told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show.
"We don't know how long these measures are going to be in place. It may be for some time until we can get the vaccine going."
