Asda has today announced a raft of extra measures to boost Covid-19 protection for its customers.

Some 1,000 new Asda Safety Marshals nationally will be stationed in front of every store and in the aisles of larger stores, including the Grantham superstore in Union Street.

These colleagues will be on hand to help customers with safety queries and reiterate Government guidelines to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing while they shop.

Asda says customers who do not have a covering when they enter the store will be offered a pack of disposable masks that they can pay for as they complete their shopping.

Additionally, those marshals stationed at the store entrance will provide sanitised baskets / trolleys to customer as they enter the store.

Furthermore, additional hand sanitisation stations will be installed in the busiest sections of all stores in addition to the multiple cleaning points already found throughout stores.

A protective coating will also be applied to all basket and trolley handles, creating an antimicrobial surface that prevents the spread of bacteria and viruses. The same coating technology (Bio Master X shield) is already used to kill bacteria and viruses in the NHS Nightingale Excel hospital.

Following the recent change in Government guidance, all Asda store colleagues in England, Wales and Scotland will now wear a covering while at work unless they have a medical exemption.

Asda says it has always encouraged its colleagues to wear a covering by offering them a choice of disposable and reusable coverings and visors.

These new initiatives will supplement the comprehensive safety measures Asda already to make its stores a Covid secure place to shop and work, which include, Perspex screens at every checkout, clear social distancing signage throughout stores, and regular deep cleaning regimes – further details of which can be found here.

Anthony Hemmerdinger, Chief Operating Officer at Asda, said: "We know that safety remains a key priority for our customers and we will continue to do all we can to keep them and our colleagues safe in store, as we have since the start of the pandemic. These additional measures will make our stores an even safer place to shop and work during the coming months."

As Nub News reported yesterday, Morrisons has also recently introduced extra safety measures.