Coronavirus: Major supermarkets in Eastbourne bring in new safety measures and timetables

Supermarkets in the town, which include Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Aldi, Waitrose, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons have outlined safety precautions they are taking, with some including designated times for key workers, the elderly and vulnerable, and the encouragement of contactless payments.

Sainsbury’s in The Beacon is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm; Thursday to Friday from 8am to 7pm; Saturday from 8am to 6pm; Sunday from 10.30am to 4.30am.

The Hampden Park store is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm; Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

However, new rules have been brought in for NHS workers, the vulnerable and the elderly. A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, “We have made changes to all supermarket opening hours from March 23.

“NHS ID holders have priority Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 8am. Elderly customers, carers and disabled customers have priority Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 9am.”

Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe said in a statement that his store has limited the amount of people allowed in store at the same time, reduced the number of checkouts to increase social distancing, prioritised the elderly and vulnerable for home delivery slots and asked customers to pay by card if they can.

Mr Coupe said in a statment Sainsbury’s delivery service has had one year’s worth of work in two weeks.

Lidl in Seaside is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 10pm; Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Lidl has installed ‘cough and sneeze proof screens’ at each checkout to protect staff and customers. The supermarket has also taken similar precautions to Sainsbury’s.

A Lidl spokesperson said, “We’ve given our store teams the flexibility to adjust opening hours as they deem necessary, to replenish stock and ensure availability for customers. Should any changes occur, opening times will be updated at the store and online.”

Aldi in Lottbridge Drove is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm; Sunday from 10am to 4pm. The supermarket has also installed ‘cough and sneeze proof screens’, implemented rules for social distancing and reduced store opening hours for staff to replenish shelves.

Waitrose in High Street is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 9pm; Saturday from 8am to 8pm; Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Waitrose’s rules are similar to the other supermarkets, with social distancing being enforced. The chain has also included ‘special protective visors’ which are available to staff to create a barrier between them and potential germs.

According to a Waitrose spokesperson, there will be essential items set aside for NHS workers to buy and they will also be given priority checkout service.

Bérangère Michel, partner and executive director of customer service John Lewis Partnership, said, “While these measures will dramatically change how people shop and interact with others in our stores for the moment - they are absolutely vital to ensure that our customers can shop safely and that our partners are protected as they go above and beyond to serve shoppers in this time of crisis.”

Tesco in Lottbridge Drove has various opening times from Saturday (March 28) through the next week. It will be open Saturday from 6am to 10pm; Sunday (March 29) 10am to 4pm; Monday (March 31) to Thursday (April 2) from 8am to 10pm.

Tesco announced on Sunday (March 22) that there will be a designated time for NHS workers to pick up their groceries, which is an hour before normal opening time each Sunday.

Vulnerable and elderly customers also have a designated slot to shop which is every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning between 9am and 10am.

Tesco’s safety measures are similar to the other major chains’ with the inclusion of hand sanitisers placed around stores for customers and staff to use.

A Tesco spokesperson said, “We are changing store hours to ensure we can serve customers better at this time. It gives our colleagues the time to restock the store, replenish the shelves and support our online grocery service at a time when demand is high.”

Asda in The Crumbles is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm; Sunday 10am to 4pm. The company has also confirmed that it will be prioritising NHS workers in larger stores every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 9am.

Asda also has similar safety measures as the other supermarkets, with the addition of increasing contactless payment limits from £30 to £45 as of April 1.

Morrisons in Lottbridge Drove is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm; Sunday from 10am to 4pm. The supermarket has also introduced a special opening time for NHS workers, which is from 7am to 8am between Monday and Saturday.

Morrisons has launched a customer call centre for orders to be taken over the phone so that people who do not shop online can still order food, according to a spokesperson.

The supermarket has also outlined new delivery methods which will see 2,500 pickers and drivers recruited, according to a spokesperson.

Chief executive of Morrisons David Potts said, “We expect the days, weeks and months ahead to be very testing and we are determined to do our bit.

“These measures will support our very hard-working colleagues, enable us to provide more food to more people in their homes and create opportunities for people whose jobs are affected by the coronavirus.”

• Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is an illness which affects the lungs and airways. Symptoms are a high temperature and continuous cough.

• The Government is now telling people to stay at home unless: shopping for basic necessities, one form of exercise a day, any medical need or to help a vulnerable person, and travelling to and from work - ONLY when absolutely necessary

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