Morrisons will now no longer allow shoppers in stores without a mask unless they’re medically exempt.

The supermarket Morrisons has now confirmed that customers who refuse to wear a mask will be told to leave the store unless they can provide a medical exemption.

Chief executive David Potts said: “Those who are offered a face covering and decline to wear one won’t be allowed to shop at Morrisons unless they are medically exempt. Our store colleagues are working hard to feed you and your family, please be kind.”

This comes after shopworkers’ union USDAW said it was ‘inundated’ with complaints from members who were ‘deeply concerned’ for their safety, as the public often ignore Covid rules. 

England’s chief medical officer said earlier that the next few weeks will be the worst of the pandemic, pleading with the public to minimise the amount of unnecessary contact with people not in their household. 

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Chris Whitty added: “This new variant is really pushing things in a way that the old variant, which was already very bad, was not able to. So we have a very significant problem … The next few weeks are going to be the worst weeks of this pandemic in terms of numbers into the NHS.” 

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi also voiced his concerns that the public were not complying with the measures put in place by supermarkets. He said: “I am worried about supermarkets and people actually wearing masks and following the one-way system and making sure when it’s at capacity they wait outside the supermarket.”

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) general secretary, Paddy Lillis said: “Retail staff are working with the public every day and not only suffer increased abuse, but are deeply worried about catching Covid-19.

“Where safety measures are agreed, retailers need to make sure that they are being followed consistently, in every store. We are also very concerned by reports that too many customers are not following necessary safety measures like social distancing, wearing a face covering and only shopping for essential items.”

New tighter rules are also now reportedly being considered by the government, six days after the national lockdown was implemented. 

The Telegraph reports that a ban on households mixing is being considered by ministers as well as the possible introduction of face coverings in offices, as some businesses have apparently become ‘lax’. 

Sainsbury’s has announced plans to open on Boxing Day despite union bosses urging the supermarket to give staff a break.

The supermarket has come under fire following its decision to open between 10am and 5pm on December 26th.

Representatives at Unite accused the company of ‘putting wealth before the wellbeing of its workforce’ after one of the toughest years on record for the supermarket staff.

The union has described the chain as ‘acting like Scrooge’ following the decision.

The union is calling on the supermarket to close on Boxing Day so staff can enjoy ‘a well earned break’  after working in ‘difficult conditions throughout the pandemic’.

They are also calling for measures to help staff get home safely after midnight when public transport might be limited.

The supermarket has agreed to reduce its opening hours but supermarkets will be open from 6am to midnight from December 21st to December 23rd. 

Unite national officer Bev Clarkson said: “In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge begrudgingly gives Bob Cratchit Christmas Day off but demands he be in on Boxing Day.

“By refusing to give their workforce – many of whom, like Bob Cratchit, will have worked until late Christmas Eve – a well-earned break on Boxing Day, Sainsbury’s are acting like Scrooge.

“Putting wealth before the wellbeing of its workforce certainly doesn’t chime with Sainsbury’s warm-hearted Christmas ads currently running on TV.”

Sainsbury’s is said to be anticipating pre-tax profits to top £270million for the year, and over £586million in 2021-22.

Clarkson added: “Scrooge learns that some things are more important than the pursuit of riches; Sainsbury’s, who have made lots of money this year, should follow suit and give staff a well-earned break with their families.

“They should also put in place measures to ensure staff working until after midnight in the run up to Christmas can get home safely.”

“Sainsbury’s should embrace the Christmas spirit by recognising their staff have worked hard throughout the pandemic, on top of working extra hours over the festive period, and give them Boxing Day off.”

Sainsbury’s released a statement that read: “Our colleagues do a fantastic job and have worked incredibly hard this year,”

“We are doing everything we can to give our colleagues Boxing Day off where they have asked for it and we will be reducing our opening hours for Boxing Day from 10am to 5pm for all our Sainsbury’s supermarkets and Argos stores.

A former Primark employee has revealed top secrets that every Primark shopper needs to know.

Georgia Ponton the twenty-year-old ex-employee has dished all the dirt for the most successful Primark shopping trip ever, from how and where to find popular sized clothing that looks out of stock to how to find out what will be on sale after Christmas.

Georgia worked at Primark during the weekends after college back in July 2017. 

One of her tips includes one we have all done before. If you have to come back later, Georgia says to hide your stash.

Like us customers, Georgia says the staff do it too! But here’s the catch, many people fail to come back for the product. So, she says if you’re after a popular item and can’t find your size, look elsewhere around the store where people may have hidden them.

She recommends the corners of the shop, lower racks and to definitely have a look in the nightwear section.

“All the popular stuff goes very quickly,” she said. “The most popular sizes, which are 8, 10 and 12 will go and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

“But sometimes people are undecided about a piece of clothing and will hide it in case they want to come back and get it.

“They almost always forget about it but sometimes if you check right at the back of the rails that are still quite full, some people hide stuff there.

“And in corners of the store. Since a lot of people glance over areas that are in front of them, the corners of the store are sometimes the most forgotten about.

“There was one particular corner in the pyjama section, on the lowest rack, where people would hide stuff.

“When I used to work and I saw something I want to buy on my break, I would put it in that corner too and come and collect it when I was on my break.

“Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure my managers knew I did that.

“It was so hard to not spend all your money in there since we worked around the clothes all the time and saw the items as they first hit the shelves.”

And to find out what’s going in the sale, Georgia says to simply ask the staff! 

She said: “Since staff have to be prepared for the upcoming sales, like Boxing Day or New Year’s Day, they might be given a piece of paper with all the things in their department that are going on sale.

“If you like something but think that it could be going out of season or there aren’t many left, ask a supervisor or manager.

“If it’s going on sale soon, and they should be able to tell you, then you can decide whether to buy it then or come back.”

Georgia also warns people to stop trying to cheat the system adding sale stickers onto items to try and get a discount. She explains that ‘if you come to the till with a piece of clothing and it has one of the red reduced-price stickers on the label but it scans as full price on the till then it’s full price’.

If you’ve ever found a random item you really like but it’s been misplaced so you’ve only got the one, Georgia says to check the sort code. Each department has a different code. 

For instance, women’s department number is eight so all women’s clothes start with 08. Then women’s bras, pyjamas and underwear have 04. Men’s clothes will begin with 06.

She adds: “For reference, 01: Accessories, 02: Hosiery (socks), 04: Lingerie and Loungewear, 06: Menswear, 07: Footwear, 08: Womenswear, 11: Homeware and 16: Men’s Accessories.”

Georgia said that despite experiences with unhappy customers – she adds not to shout at the people at the till, it’s not their fault they just scan items – she loved working at Primark.

She said: “I loved working at Primark. My first job as a waitress was awful and put me off working in food forever. When I heard a Primark was opening up at the new shopping complex, I jumped at the chance.”

Happy shopping!