We’ve been trying to find a decent link – one that isn’t hidden behind a paywall – on a news site with best practice info on how to shop at supermarkets in this new normal.

No longer do you walk in, buy what you need, go home. It’s altogether a much more intense operation.

(OR Avoid all this hassle and local, The Boathouse grocery service. If it isn’t supported – it could be gone – simple as that.)

Here is a compilation of advice from various supermarkets, mostly Tesco. If you have to travel up town, take note:

  • To ensure more people have access to everyday essentials, Tesco have introduced a storewide restriction of 3 items per customer on every product line and removed multi-buy promotions. (Sainsburys have also done, this, but have been confused and not let us buy more than three tins of ANYTHING.)
  • In product areas where demand is particularly high, simplified ranges to get more of the most popular products on shelves.
  • Special hours for NHS bring a form of ID to store, such as an NHS staff card. We have listened to feedback and are looking at how we can extend this to include extra days from next week.
  • To ensure our more vulnerable and elderly customers, priority hours in the morning, check with the supermarket you are going to.
  • Delivery slots for online shopping. Tesco says: we are at full capacity for the next few weeks and we ask those who are able to safely come to stores to do so, instead of shopping online, so that we can start to free up more slots for the more vulnerable.
  • Tesco also says: We have more stock coming into stores every day, with up to double the usual amounts of key essentials arriving – but we need everyone’s help: please buy only what you need, so that there is enough for everyone.

Safety for everyone (mostly Tesco)

  • To ensure Tesco are doing everything possible to reduce the risk of infection for our customers and colleagues, we will begin to introduce new social distancing measures in stores in the coming days.
  • Floor markings in Tesco car parks will help you to maintain safe distances when queuing.
  • Where necessary, Tesco will limit the flow of people coming into our stores to ensure they don’t get too congested.
  • Hand sanitisers are being placed around Tesco stores for customers and colleagues to use, as well as extra cleaning products to wipe down your trolley or basket.
  • In some Tesco stores, we will introduce directional floor markings and new signage, to create a safe flow around the store.
  • New floor markings in Tesco will help you to keep a safe distance from others while waiting to pay.
  • Tesco are installing protective screens at our checkouts. (Morrisons and Lidl are doing this too)
  • Where possible, Tesco will create separate entrances and exits to our stores, so that it’s easier to keep a safe distance from other shoppers.

General Advice, any store:

  • Please check your store’s opening hours in advance. Please avoid shopping dedicated times for vulnerable and elderly people, and NHS workers, and be kind to staff as they’re working hard to serve you.
  • Before you leave home, please bring enough bags for your shop. If it’s raining, don’t forget an umbrella too, in case you need to queue outside.
  • Try to shop with no more than one other person, which will help to reduce the number of people in-store at any one time.
  • Please use our cleaning stations to wipe your trolley, basket, or Scan as you Shop handsets.
  • If possible, use card or contactless payments. (limits have been increased to £45)

Coming Home, or Delivering to others

  • Use gloves, discard when necessary.
  • Touch as little as possible.
  • Stand well away from others. Drop the box and step back if delivering.
  • Use an antiviral spray or wipe if you have it, for any parts you have touched.
  • Wipe down parts of you car you have touched.
  • Put your empty shopping bags in a separate area – garage – for 3 days as they may have touched high traffic areas, and use a new set.
  • Wash your hands immediately on coming home.
  • And it has been advised unofficially so far, you could put your clothes in the wash and put on fresh ones.

Then have a beer or a gin, Or a bit of chocolate, and wait for it all to blow over.