Free grocery deliveries for those stuck in their homes
LEADING supermarkets could be drafted in to carry out free deliveries of food and groceries to people who are self-isolating because of coronavirus, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
Ministers and officials are in talks with retailers and delivery companies about getting supplies to elderly and vulnerable people who are housebound because of the virus.
However, supermarkets might not have enough drivers to make deliveries. One retail chief said last night that the Army could be deployed to help.
It came as Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, prepared to set out measures in next week’s Budget to help companies deal with cash flow problems caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
The Government last night called a meeting of sports authorities and broadcasters on Monday to discuss contingency measures. George Eustice, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, raised the idea of home deliveries yesterday with Britain’s biggest supermarket chains, including the Coop, Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose, Lidl, Aldi, and Ocado. One idea, though not raised specifically in the coversation, was that the Government would pay delivery companies to drop off supplies where the vulnerable were unable to get to the shops.
A source said: “What the Government would try to do is make the deliveries
‘Retailers reassured me they have plans and are taking steps to ensure consumers have the supplies they need’
free but people would pay for the groceries.” Ideas discussed included lifting curfews so suppliers can increase deliveries to supermarkets in residential areas. Limits on the number of hours drivers can spend behind the wheel could also be relaxed.
But supermarkets warned they may not have enough delivery staff if the number of sufferers hit the 20 per cent level seen in China. One source said: “You could use software and tech to organise deliveries but you would need to recruit drivers. The problem would be finding drivers.”
Ministers impressed on the supermarkets the need to ensure that shelves were filled to ensure that shoppers did not feel they had to panic buy. The meeting heard that in coronavirus-hit areas in Italy and Germany supermarket sales were up between 50 per cent and 60 per cent.
Mr Eustice said last night: “Retailers reassured me they have well-established contingency plans and are taking all the necessary steps to ensure consumers have the supplies they need.
“I will be convening a further meeting with industry, retailers and public sector organisations early next week to discuss support for vulnerable groups who may be in isolation.”
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said: “We are working to make sure that if people are self-isolating, they will be able to get the supplies they need.”