Northern Ireland

Asda introducing Covid-19 marshals to stores

Shoppers queue at Asda on Kennedy Way, Belfast, on Sunday morning as laws were relaxed allowing larger shops to open from 10am instead of 1pm
Shoppers queue at Asda on Kennedy Way, Belfast, on Sunday morning as laws were relaxed allowing larger shops to open from 10am instead of 1pm Shoppers queue at Asda on Kennedy Way, Belfast, on Sunday morning as laws were relaxed allowing larger shops to open from 10am instead of 1pm

Asda will introduce 1,000 new Covid-19 marshals on the doors of its supermarkets to ensure customers wear masks properly and follow stricter guidelines over the pandemic.

The Asda Safety Marshals are to be stationed at the front of every store and in the aisles of larger stores.

Bosses said they expect the staff to be able to help shoppers with safety questions and to reiterate guidelines.

If customers are not wearing masks in store, they will be told they can buy a pack of disposable masks and pay for them as part of their shopping trip.

Extra hand sanitiser stations will be provided in the busiest parts of the stores and protective coatings will be applied to all basket and trolley handles.

Following the recent change in British government guidance, all Asda store colleagues in England, Wales and Scotland will now wear a covering while at work unless they have a medical exemption, the supermarket added.

The company confirmed marshals would be used in supermarkets across the north.

Anthony Hemmerdinger, chief operating officer at Asda, said: "We know that safety remains a key priority for our customers and we will continue to do all we can to keep them and our colleagues safe in store, as we have since the start of the pandemic.

"These additional measures will make our stores an even safer place to shop and work during the coming months."

Supermarkets were granted "essential" status during the lockdown in March, leading to long queues and strict social distancing, although over time the rules were relaxed and enforcement reduced.