Now Tesco begins rationing: Supermarket giant becomes latest to limit sale of items like loo roll, soap and UHT milk as coronavirus panic-buying worsens
- Sainsbury's restricting purchases to maximum of three grocery items and two on items including toilet roll
- Close cafes, meat, fish and pizza counters and disabled and elderly customers to take priority for deliveries
- Morrisons plans to create 3,500 new jobs and expand its home delivery operation to help it deal with crisis
- Transport Secretary has relaxed rules so drivers supplying supermarkets can stay on the road without a break
- Despite stringent new measures, shelves at a Tesco and Asda were stripped bare two hours after opening
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Tesco has become the latest supermarket to impose strict rationing measures on items like loo roll, soap and UHT milk to curb coronavirus panic-buying.
Customers stocking up across the country is intensifying today as supermarkets under mounting pressure are taking drastic rationing action in a bid to deal with the unprecedented demand for goods.
Tesco, the UK's biggest supermarket, will impose restrictions on all customers to buying a maximum of three products per line from Thursday, as it copes with the high demand from the coronavirus pandemic, the company has announced.
Britain's grocery industry has struggled for over a week to keep shelves stocked in the face of stockpiling, which worsened on Tuesday despite weekend appeals for calm from supermarket bosses and politicians.
But experts have asked why supermarkets have introduced different limits on certain goods, creating confusion for customers and competition among rivals.
Sainsbury's today announced it is closing its in-store bakeries, meat, fish and pizza counters and cafes from tomorrow to free up lorry and warehouse capacity, and to free up more staff to stack shelves.
The supermarket will restrict people to only buying three of any single grocery item, with a two-item limit on the most popular goods such as toilet paper and long-life milk. From March 23, disabled customers and those over 70 will take priority for online delivery slots.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said, 'We are temporarily closing our cafes, some supermarket bakery services and counters so that we can focus on serving grocery and other essential items in our busy stores.'
Aldi became the first UK grocer to introduce rationing, limiting customers to buying four items of any one product during each visit, while Morrisons plans to create 3,500 new jobs and expand its home delivery operation.
Tesco and Asda followed suit by limiting shoppers to three items, while Iceland will only open to elderly, vulnerable and disabled shoppers on Wednesday mornings.
In addition, Sainsbury's will not be opening its stores to the elderly from an hour at the start of the day at 600 supermarkets across the country.
Despite the stringent new measures, shelves at a Tesco supermarket in Ely, Cambridgeshire, were stripped bare just two hours after the store opened this morning.
And customers at an Asda Walmart in Waterlooville, Hampshire, were queuing outside the door at 6am this morning and within just one hour, shoppers claim shelves were empty as worried households continue to stockpile against government advice.
As supermarket shelves are severely depleted across the country and bosses face calls to take action, on another day of major developments in the coronavirus outbreak:
- Boris Johnson finally vowed a dramatic escalation of the UK's coronavirus testing capacity today amid warnings that the country cannot fight the epidemic 'blindfolded'
- PM said the number of tests a day will be increased from 5,000 to 25,000, and NHS staff will be prioritised
- The government urged medical companies to help 'rapidly' develop a swab test to be used in the community
- The Welsh government announced that all schools will close for an early Easter break by Friday at the latest
- Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her country will be following suit
- Boris Johnson suggested during PMQs that some sort of action will be taken in the very near future
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/16/26128110-8124137-image-a-2_1584548715381.jpg)
![Items that are now selling out, and subsequently being rationed, at supermarkets up and down the country, include long-life milk, cleaning fluids, toilet rolls and pasta](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/15/26125994-8124137-image-a-17_1584546280054.jpg)
Items that are now selling out, and subsequently being rations, at supermarkets up and down the country, include long-life milk, cleaning fluids, toilet rolls and pasta
![A Sainsbury's worker walks past a customer next to empty shelves at a Sainsbury's store in Harpenden as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/18/26134278-8124137-image-a-13_1584557806776.jpg)
A Sainsbury's worker walks past a customer next to empty shelves at a Sainsbury's store in Harpenden as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues
![The shelves are empty as panic buying continues at the Tesco Holmbush store in Shoreham, earlier this week](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/18/26134340-8124137-image-a-15_1584557949610.jpg)
The shelves are empty as panic buying continues at the Tesco Holmbush store in Shoreham, today
![A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store today after spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/18/26134352-8124137-image-a-17_1584557989359.jpg)
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store today after spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products
![People rushed to enter Waitrose as the shop opened in Clapham Junction this morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26116740-8124137-People_rushed_to_enter_Waitrose_as_the_shop_opened_in_Clapham_Ju-m-29_1584533739626.jpg)
People rushed to enter Waitrose as the shop opened in Clapham Junction this morning
![Customers queuing at Costco in Croydon, south London this morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26113190-8124137-Customers_queuing_at_Costco_in_Croydon_south_London_this_morning-m-26_1584533711574.jpg)
Customers queuing at Costco in Croydon, south London this morning
![There were lengthy queues outside a Saver Centre in Willesden, London this morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/11/26113206-8124137-There_were_lengthy_queues_outside_a_Saver_Centre_in_Willesden_Lo-a-16_1584529736540.jpg)
There were lengthy queues outside a Saver Centre in Willesden, London this morning
![A large queue at the checkout before 8am at the Sainsbury's superstore in Colchester, Essex](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26116750-8124137-image-a-31_1584533802112.jpg)
A large queue at the checkout before 8am at the Sainsbury's superstore in Colchester, Essex
![People queuing outside an Iceland store in Northwich which opened one hour early to allow elderly shoppers to buy food today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26116706-8124137-image-a-32_1584533871714.jpg)
People queuing outside an Iceland store in Northwich which opened one hour early to allow elderly shoppers to buy food today
![A lady looking at empty shelves in a Sainsbury's store in London today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26117350-8124137-image-a-52_1584534809261.jpg)
A lady looking at empty shelves in a Sainsbury's store in London today
![Empty pasta shelves in Tesco in Ely, Cambridgeshire, at 8am - just two hours after the store opened today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/11/26113164-8124137-Empty_pasta_shelves_in_Tesco_in_Ely_Cambridgeshire_at_8am_just_t-a-17_1584529736540.jpg)
Empty pasta shelves in Tesco in Ely, Cambridgeshire, at 8am - just two hours after the store opened today
![Earlier today Spar was forced to apologise after shoppers in Sheffield were left outraged by a store selling toilet rolls for £1 each in the wake of the panic buying](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/19/26135706-8124137-image-a-2_1584561205461.jpg)
Earlier today Spar was forced to apologise after shoppers in Sheffield were left outraged by a store selling toilet rolls for £1 each in the wake of the panic buying
The Tesco in Ely, Cambridgeshire closed overnight for the shelves to be re-stocked and there were huge queues outside the doors when it opened at 6am today.
Just two hours later the supermarket had already run out of many essential household goods, including toilet roll, disinfectant, washing capsules.
It was also running low on dried foods such as pasta, long life milk and cat and dog food.
Panic-buyers also stripped the shelves of a Sainsbury's store in Colchester Essex, as the supermarket giant slapped shoppers with strict rationing.
The 'locust-like' wave of shoppers nearly emptied the supermarket chain's biggest store of vital goods.
Pictures taken today reveal paracetamol, toilet paper, past, canned goods and bottled water have sold out.
The empty shelves are a stark contrast to the bustling carpark with worried shoppers queuing up in the aisles at 7.30am this morning.
One elderly shopper said: 'I can't believe it, I thought there would be more stock coming in. It is like locusts have been through here and gone mad. I only popped in for my weekly shop and I don't know what I'm going to do.'
Earlier today Spar was forced to apologise after shoppers in Sheffield were left outraged by a store selling toilet rolls for £1 each in the wake of the panic buying.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday shut down social life in Britain and advised the most vulnerable to isolate for 12 weeks.
Today, the PM finally vowed a dramatic escalation of the UK's coronavirus testing capacity today amid warnings that the country cannot fight the epidemic 'blindfolded'.
The PM said the number of tests a day will be increased from the current level of around 5,000 to 25,000, and NHS staff will be prioritised.
However, the full 'surge capacity' at Public Health England and in health service laboratories might not be ready for another four week.
At this point the government is still only planning to test patients in hospitals - although the government has urged medical companies to help 'rapidly' develop a swab test that can be used in the community.
The announcement came amid mounting alarm about the level of screening, with fury that NHS workers are being forced to self-isolate because they are unsure whether they have the disease or not.
From Monday Sainsbury's will operate an expanded 'click and collect' service, with a significant increase in the number of collection sites across the UK.
Sainsbury's also plans to reserve hours in stores specifically for the elderly and vulnerable and will give customers who are over 70 or have a disability priority access to online delivery slots.
Some 600 of its stores will only open to these two groups for the first hour of trading on Thursday, chief executive Mike Coupe said, but will open for an hour longer so other shoppers do not miss out.
From tomorrow, Sainsbury's will also be closing its cafes and its meat, fish and pizza counters in supermarkets.
CEO Mike Coupe said this measure was to free up warehouse and lorry capacity for products that customers really need, and free up time for staff to focus on keeping the shelves as well stocked as possible.
Chaotic panic-buying has seen people scrabbling to load up with toilet rolls, long-life milk and pasta in a bid to prepare for the worst.
An open letter, penned by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and signed by the likes of Sainsbury's, Lidl, Tesco, Aldi, Waitrose, M&S, Asda, Iceland and Morrison's, was released some days ago warning the public against the effects of stockpiling, but was largely ignored.
The letter reads: 'We want to let you know that we are doing everything we can so that you and your families have the food and essentials you need. But we need your help too.
'We would ask everyone to be considerate in the way they shop. We understand your concerns but buying more than is needed can sometimes mean that others will be left without.
'There is enough for everyone if we all work together.'
Earlier this week Tesco - Britain's biggest supermarket - rationed the sale of anti-bacterial products, dried pasta, tinned vegetables, toilet paper and tissues to five packs at a time.
Today, it announced it was lowering that limit to three.
Waitrose introduced a limit to products - including hand sanitizer - that can be bought online.
In Boots, bottles of children's paracetamol Calpol were being sold at only one at a time.
Morrisons placed 'a maximum order number' on certain products - according to a statement on its website.
Shoppers seeking a Morrisons home delivery have been instructed to tell the store if they are self-isolating so goods can be left on the doorstep.
Asda has a two-product limit on items including cleaning products and hand sanitizer while Aldi has limited shoppers to four items in store.
Morrisons said it has seen retail sales jump 5 per cent since its financial year end due to 'considerable' stockpiling amid the coronavirus crisis.
The group, which yesterday announced plans to ramp up its online operations to help meet surging delivery demand, said underlying pre-tax profits rose 3 per cent to £408 million in the year to February 2.
Full-year group like-for-like sales, excluding VAT, were 0.8% lower, having been 4.8% higher in the previous year.
In a joint statement, Morrisons chairman Andrew Higginson and chief executive David Potts said: 'We are currently facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty dealing with Covid-19.
'Looking after our colleagues and customers is our priority, ensuring that we have a clean, safe place to shop and work.
'At Morrisons, we have a strong, experienced, and above all, determined team of the best food makers and shopkeepers in Britain.
'We promise to work as hard as we can for customers, suppliers, and all stakeholders to keep our shops operating as smoothly as possible.'
Meanwhile, lorry drivers transporting essential goods to supermarkets can stay on the road longer without a break to help the response to Covid-19, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced.
He has relaxed drivers' hours rules as retailers struggle to keep shelves filled due to stockpiling caused by coronavirus fears.
![Martin Lockwood of Waitrose told the worried queue outside the store this morning that he has had less than 20 units of toilet paper delivered today and they would only be sold to people the government has said to be vulnerable](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/11/26113200-8124137-Martin_Lockwood_of_Waitrose_told_the_worried_queue_outside_the_s-a-8_1584529736536.jpg)
Martin Lockwood of Waitrose told the worried queue outside the store this morning that he has had less than 20 units of toilet paper delivered today and they would only be sold to people the government has said to be vulnerable
![People queuing outside Waitrose in Clapham Junction waiting for the shop to open today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/13/26113196-8124137-People_queuing_outside_Waitrose_in_Clapham_Junction_waiting_for_-a-1_1584537092744.jpg)
People queuing outside Waitrose in Clapham Junction waiting for the shop to open today
![Iceland supermarkets have allowed elderly customers exclusive use of the shop between 9am and 11am before the general public were allowed in. Pictured, a store in Northwich, Cheshire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26116704-8124137-image-a-35_1584533916832.jpg)
Iceland supermarkets have allowed elderly customers exclusive use of the shop between 9am and 11am before the general public were allowed in. Pictured, a store in Northwich, Cheshire
The measure applies to drivers playing a part in supplying supermarkets with food, personal care items, toilet roll, cleaning products and medicines.
The changes include:
- Increasing the maximum daily time a driver can be on the road from nine hours to 11 hours
- Reducing the minimum amount of daily rest from 11 hours to nine hours
- Raising the weekly driving limit from 56 hours to 60 hours
Drivers involved in transporting items to stores or distribution centres are eligible to work extended hours until April 16.
Mr Shapps said the policy would 'help deliver vital goods to stores across the UK' but insisted that 'driver welfare must not be compromised'.
Rules for drivers transporting purchases directly to consumers are unchanged, despite many consumers struggling to book delivery slots amid huge demand.
![The Tesco in Ely, Cambridgeshire closed overnight for the shelves to be re-stocked and there were huge queues outside the doors when it opened at 6am today. Just two hours later the supermarket had already run out of many essential household goods, including toilet roll, disinfectant, washing capsules](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/11/26113154-8124137-The_Tesco_in_Ely_Cambridgeshire_closed_overnight_for_the_shelves-a-18_1584529736540.jpg)
The Tesco in Ely, Cambridgeshire closed overnight for the shelves to be re-stocked and there were huge queues outside the doors when it opened at 6am today. Just two hours later the supermarket had already run out of many essential household goods, including toilet roll, disinfectant, washing capsules
![Customers queuing at Costco in Croydon this morning. The first customer arrived at 7am, waiting for the store to open at 9.30](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/11/26113194-8124137-Customers_queuing_at_Costco_in_Croydon_this_morning_The_first_cu-a-19_1584529736542.jpg)
Customers queuing at Costco in Croydon this morning. The first customer arrived at 7am, waiting for the store to open at 9.30
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26116694-8124137-image-a-38_1584534023763.jpg)
Elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers were allowed into Iceland stores across the country before anyone else today
![The scheme, which will run every Wednesday until further notice, has been rolled out at Iceland stores across the country](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26116696-8124137-image-a-40_1584534030303.jpg)
The scheme, which will run every Wednesday until further notice, has been rolled out at Iceland stores across the country
![Croydon Costco: Just before opening time there were several hundred waiting and the queue was growing. An employee warned that action would be taken against any 'queue jumpers'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/14/26113192-8124137-Croydon_Costco_Just_before_opening_time_there_were_several_hundr-a-14_1584542547663.jpg)
Croydon Costco: Just before opening time there were several hundred waiting and the queue was growing. An employee warned that action would be taken against any 'queue jumpers'
Sebastian James, CEO of high street pharmacy Boots, told Radio 4 today that it was 'difficult' for rival supermarkets to get together and discuss a plan to battle the coronavirus crisis.
He also said the problem up and down the country was 'demand, not supply'.
He told the show: 'No supply chain in the world can survive a sudden unexpected global tenfold increase in demand.
'What we thought [at Boots] was incredibly important was that as many people as possible can get what they actually needed. People have been really understanding.'
He added: 'We're all in this together.'
But when asked why there was no common policy among shops, he said: 'It's difficult for different businesses to get together and decided what they're going to do – apart from anything else, it's against the law. What we've done is what we think is right.
'Two items is what we think people need.'
'We're getting more hand sanitizer, more paracetamol, more pain relief, more cleaning products, more baby products - 504 lines are in demand in our stores.
'Deliveries are little and often, we ship to our stores every day, sometimes twice a day. Supply chain is beginning to respond to this demand.
'There's enough out there. The fact is, we think that it is completely rational for families to stock up on what they really need.
'But what we're asking customers is to just make sure that other people can get what they need.'
He was asked why some supermarkets had been slow to react, with no limits on goods and shelves cleared over the weekend, 'leaving people upset and scared that they can't get what they need.'
![Lengthy queues formed down the road in Clapham today as eager shopper rushed to get inside the store](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26114900-8124137-image-m-45_1584534075563.jpg)
Lengthy queues formed down the road in Clapham today as eager shopper rushed to get inside the store
![Queues outside a Saver Centre in Willesden, London, early this morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/13/26113210-8124137-Queues_outside_a_Saver_Centre_in_Willesden_London_early_this_mor-a-2_1584537092750.jpg)
Queues outside a Saver Centre in Willesden, London, early this morning
He added: 'We went pretty early on this; as a healthcare business we were the first to see people reacting.
'Loo roll is a strange one – it has a very predictable demand normally its only in these strange times that you see demand going up.
'But we could guess that was going to happen with other products [like paracetamol, thermometers].'
'We don't like this situation – it's not good for any business.
'All retailers like is customers that are happy, safe, secure and shopping and we are all look forward to a time that we can get back to that.'
In a letter to customers, Sainsbury's Chief Executive Mike Coupe said that from Wednesday customers would be able to buy a maximum of three of any grocery product and a maximum of two of the most popular products including toilet paper, soap and UHT milk.
'We have enough food coming into the system, but are limiting sales so that it stays on shelves for longer and can be bought by a larger numbers of customers,' he said.
In an impassioned plea to households, Mr Coupe urged people to 'only buy what they need'.
![Huge queues formed outside an Asda in East London this morning as shoppers flocked to get their hands on essential items](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/13/25993196-8124137-Huge_queues_formed_outside_an_Asda_in_East_London_this_morning_a-a-4_1584537092779.jpg)
Huge queues formed outside an Asda in East London this morning as shoppers flocked to get their hands on essential items
![A delivery is made to a SPAR supermarket in Belfast as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/13/26114940-8124137-A_delivery_is_made_to_a_SPAR_supermarket_in_Belfast_as_the_sprea-a-6_1584537092804.jpg)
A delivery is made to a SPAR supermarket in Belfast as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues
In an email, he wrote; 'Over the past two weeks we have: Ordered more stock of essential items from our suppliers, put more capacity into our warehouses and set limits on a small number of items, including some cleaning products, soap and pain relief.
'This is a precautionary measure - if everyone shops normally, there will be enough for everyone.
'There are gaps on shelves because of increased demand, but we have new stock arriving regularly and we're doing our best to keep shelves stocked.
'Our store colleagues are working tirelessly and doing the best job they can.
'Which brings me onto a request. Please think before you buy and only buy what you and your family need.
'If we all do this then we can make sure we have enough for everyone. And please help elderly and vulnerable friends, family and neighbours with their shopping if you can.
'I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and to thank our colleagues who are all working incredibly hard to ensure we can continue to serve our customers well.'
The group said in January that Coupe would step down as CEO on May 31 and be succeeded by Simon Roberts, the group´s current retail and operations director.
However, with UK health authorities predicting the peak of the virus is 10 to 14 weeks away there has been speculation he will defer his retirement.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/14/26113528-8125461-image-a-15_1584543584378.jpg)
![People rush to enter Waitrose as the shop opens in south London this morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/12/26116738-8124137-image-m-50_1584534699682.jpg)
People rush to enter Waitrose as the shop opens in south London this morning
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/11/26099802-8124137-image-a-13_1584529736539.jpg)
It was also announced today that schools in Wales and Scotland will close by the end of this week while a decision on whether to do the same in England will be taken 'imminently' amid the worsening coronavirus outbreak.
The Welsh government said that all schools will close for an early Easter break by Friday at the latest.
Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, said her country will be doing the same due to the impact of coronavirus on teacher numbers.
And in a sign that the school closures may not be short term, Ms Sturgeon said she could not 'promise that they will reopen before the summer holidays'.
No announcement has been made on schools in England but Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested at lunchtime during PMQs - before the Welsh and Scottish decisions were announced - that some sort of action will be taken in the very near future.
The PM said the government would act to 'square the circle' of making sure the spread of the virus is slowed while also ensuring there is not an adverse impact on NHS capacity.
Senior figures in the government fear a blanket closure of schools would adversely affect the health service because key workers could be forced off work to look after children.
There are also concerns that closing schools could lead to elderly grandparents being asked to look after grandchildren while parents continue to work.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/18/17/26130120-8124137-image-a-10_1584551794581.jpg)
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Good it's about time, every shop should do this. S...
by taz40 6750