A new study has found that supermarket workers are up to five times more likely to contract coronavirus.
Supermarkets have remained open throughout the pandemic - even during lockdown in spring, when non-essential businesses had to close their doors.
Experts have found that staff inside supermarkets could be a “significant transmission source” of the virus, reports the Mirror.
The BMJ-published research studied 104 employees at a supermarket in Boston, USA.
Each member of staff was asked to fill a questionnaire on their lifestyle, medical history and employment history, before being tested for coronavirus.
It found that one in five employees tested positive for Covid-19 - 76 per cent of which displayed no sign of symptoms.
Worryingly, of those testing positive, 91% had a customer facing role.
Researchers said: “Once essential workers are infected with SARS-CoV-2, they may become a significant transmission source for the community they serve.”
The surveys also showed that several supermarket workers reported mental health issues as a result of the pandemic.
Twenty-four workers reported at least mild anxiety, while 8 were deemed to be mildly depressed.
The researchers said: “Our significant mental health finding calls for action in providing comprehensive employee assistance services to help essential workers cope with the psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that measures should be put in place to make supermarkets safer for both workers and customers.
