During lockdown many businesses have reverted to click-and-collect as a way to keep trading. It has been reported that some businesses have been going against the rules by allowing customers, whilst claiming they were click-and-collect only.

The government have acknowledged that there are many loopholes when it comes to collection services, and have reportedly been considering banning non-essential retailers from click-and-collect altogether.

Proposals discussed by ministers over the weekend may mean that collection services by restaurants, clothes shops and even takeaways could be affected.

However, ministers have ruled out that supermarkets will be included in the ban as they fear delivery services could be overwhelmed.

One source told The Telegraph “The general feedback is that click and collect is not working, people aren’t wearing masks in queues, people are too close to each other.”

The issue is that collection services are bringing people out of their homes, whilst we are in a national lockdown. Non-essential items should not be the reason for customers queuing. Businesses should start to consider setting up a reliable delivery service if they intend to continue to trade during lockdown.

This comes after John Lewis suspended click and collect services in order to tighten Covid-19 safety measures.

Many supermarkets have also begun to strictly enforce wearing face masks in stores. Sainsbury’s reportedly hired security guards to stop groups shopping together, similar to how Booths operated during the first lockdown.

Boris Johnson is also reportedly under pressure to increase the social distancing rules to three metres to stop the spread of the virus.

As he visited a vaccination centre in the South West yesterday, he said: “We are going to keep the rules under constant review. Where we have to tighten them, we will.

“But we have rules in place which, if properly followed, we believe can make a huge, huge difference.”