SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has announced it is making some changes in stores this week to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The announcement comes as the UK enters another week of lockdown. 

Some of the changes may have already been implemented in some branches, but they will be standard in all stores CEO Dave Lewis said in an email to customers.

The changes include removing restrictions on products as well as more protection for checkout staff.

  • Restrictions removed

Tesco has announced that as it stock levels are starting to return to normal, it is removing the purchasing limits on the majority of its products.

From today, limits will only remain on essential items such as toilet rolls, pasta and hand sanitisers.

This means those customers who were planning to stock up on Easter eggs will be able to do so as restrictions will no longer apply to them.

  • One-way aisles

As part of its ongoing measures, Tesco is introducing one-way aisles and a 'one-in, one-out' system across its stores.

CEO Dave Lewis said: "As well as the measures we shared with you previously, we’re introducing one-way aisles and a ‘one-in, one-out’ system in stores.

"We’ve maintained longer opening hours to minimise potential queuing. Do ask your local store team for the quiet times."

  • Quiet times

Tesco is advising customers to ask their local stores for the quietest times to visit to avoid queuing.

These times will differ from store to store but will tend to be around an hour before closing.

  • Protective screens

You may find Tesco has altered its checkouts at your local store too as the retailer has now installed protective screens at the front and back of every till at the checkout, so that all checkouts can be open instead of every other one.

Tesco hopes this will prevent customers queuing longer than they absolutely have to during this crisis.

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  • Increase to contactless payments

The limit on contactless payments will start to move from £30 to £45 per shop.

Tesco is starting to gradually update its tills.

You can also use the free Tesco Pay+ app from Tesco Bank.

The app has bank-level security built in and lets you pay for up to £250 worth of shopping with a single contactless scan directly from your phone.

  • New delivery slots - and more on their way

During the last week Tesco has been given an initial list of 110,000 clinically vulnerable and isolated people by the Government.

From this list, Tesco has identified 75,000 existing customers who will now have home delivery slots created for them.

Tesco also says it is working through the list and as its teams receive more data from the Government, it will make even more slots available.