Is lockdown fear causing new wave of panic buying?

As online shopping slots dry up...

SUPERMARKETS ran out of online delivery slots last night as the spectre of a second national lockdown appeared to spark a new wave of panic buying across Britain.

Ocado and Sainsbury’s warned customers that they were facing huge demand for slots to book groceries, and there were none available with Tesco until Wednesday.

Elderly and vulnerable customers were being granted priority access as experts warned that Boris Johnson’s threats of intensifying restrictions may have spooked the British public.

Meanwhile, stores across Britain were yesterday also being braced for a new raft of restrictions.

Staff at 500 Morrisons supermarkets ramped up social distancing measures, and reintroduced queues and barriers outside its stores, with marshals in hi- vis jackets limiting the number of shoppers allowed inside.

It was the first time such strict measures have been seen since the height of the pandemic.

This time it is hoped that shoppers will use common sense and not repeat the chaotic scenes witnessed before lockdown in March when shoppers stripped shelves of many basics, such as toilet rolls and pasta.

Supermarkets posted notices on their websites warning customers that they were experiencing high demand for online delivery.

Ocado said: ‘Delivery slots are selling out faster than usual. If you can’t find a slot now, please use the “Next 3 days” button to see available slots.’

A notice on Sainsbury’s delivery slots page said: ‘Customers who are vulnerable will get priority access and are able to book slots in advance of anyone else.

‘We’re releasing new slots regularly so please check back if you can’t see any available.’

The websites were swamped after England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance pushed for tough restrictions. Meanwhile, the Government’s ori gi nal l ockdown architect, Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London, told BBC Radio 4 that the Government should ‘roll back’ freedoms ‘sooner rather than later’.

For the first time in months, shoppers were forced to queue at the Morrisons store in Morpeth, Northumberland, where households have been banned from mixing since yesterday in tough new measures across the North East.

At Morrisons’ Bredbury store in Greater Manchester, staff wearing masks and high-vis jackets were controlling entry.

Consumer expert and journalist Harry Wallop said: ‘Supermarkets and shoppers know which way the wind is blowing and they have learned the lessons from the first time around.

‘That is why they are booking online slots early because it’s clear supply will outstrip demand.

‘In terms of Morrisons, I think that is in response to shoppers being increasingly nervous about how relaxed things have become in our supermarkets. This is a savvy move by Morrisons to reassure people they can come into their stores and they will be safe.’

A spokesman for Morrisons said: ‘We are stepping up a range of measures to ensure the highest levels of hygiene in our stores.’