Sign explaining supermarket counter closures

Dark green Waitrose sign with light green and white text titled ‘We’re so sorry..,’ and reading ‘Our counter is now closed for the day’, from Waitrose & Partners, Finchley and of the type used in Waitrose shops during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020

With COVID-19 cases rising across the United Kingdom, staff absences in supermarkets meant that non-essential services were often closed. Many found themselves working in different roles to try to keep up with growing demand but reduced supplies.

Supermarket workers were considered key workers - designated by the United Kingdom government as “critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and EU transition response. One scientific report concluded that supermarkets were one place where people could catch COVID-19 with people working there at higher risk.