Morrisons is introducing protective screens at the checkouts of all its stores to help protect staff and customers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Supermarkets across the country have come under mounting pressure and the 1.5 metre wide screens are designed to help implement the social distancing measures advised by the government.

Morrisons’ chief executive, David Potts, said the company had employed 83 fitting teams to install protective screens at every checkout as soon as possible with the well-being of colleagues ‘paramount’.

He said: “We want to do our bit to help customers and colleagues from being affected and to help everyone observe social distancing at our checkouts. This will help us to continue to play our full part in feeding the nation – it’s more than our job.”

Last week, the supermarket set out a whole host of measures intended to help tackle the pandemic, including creating 3,500 new jobs, asking customers to avoid paying by cash and issuing hand sanitiser at all of its checkouts.

Potts said: “We expect the days, weeks and months ahead to be very testing and we are determined to do our bit.

“These measures will support our very hard-working colleagues, enable us to provide more food to more people in their homes and create opportunities for people whose jobs are affected by the coronavirus.”

Iceland, Sainsbury’s and Aldi, will also be installing protective screens in their stores, while Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda are understood to be reviewing measures to protect staff, such as potentially limiting the number of shoppers in stores at one time, according to The Guardian.