Click and collect services could be restricted to supermarkets only

Click and collect services could be banned everywhere apart from supermarkets and “essential retail” under proposals discussed by ministers, The Telegraph can disclose.

It is understood that scaling back the use of collection services for restaurants and takeaway services, as well as non-essential retailers, was raised as part of the Cabinet sub-committee known as "Covid O" on Sunday.

Two sources also confirmed that discussions had been held on mandating the use of face masks outdoors, with the only exception being inside a "private dwelling", although a third suggested any change could be limited to guidance.

Scientists from the Sage advisory committee have urged the Prime Minister to increase the two-metre rule to three metres, reported the Daily Mail.

Other proposals laid out in papers circulated as part of the Covid-O meeting included closing certain workplaces, such as estate agents, with employees shifting to working from home.

A clampdown on the property market could extend to limiting the ability of people to move house during lockdown, with the documents stating that this could be restricted to “permitted only where necessary.”

A Downing Street source insisted they were not expecting changes in these areas.

However, other Whitehall insiders said they had been tabled as “further measures” for consideration, should current restrictions fail to bring down infection rates.

It came as Sainsbury’s on Monday announced it would begin deploying trained security guards to police entrances to its stores to ensure customers are wearing masks, as well as urging customers to shop alone.

Morrisons also announced it would refuse entry to those who did not have a medical exemption.

The move came after Boris Johnson and ministers urged retailers to clamp down on rulebreakers in supermarkets, amid concern in Government that enforcement has slipped in recent months.

Meanwhile, Matt Hancock on Monday evening suggested that exercising outdoors with a person from another household could also be banned unless people stop abusing the guidance.

In the latest bid to drive up compliance with social distancing rules, the Health Secretary warned that ministers were seeing too many instances of people gathering in “large groups” in parks and other outdoor spaces.

He added that while he recognised the importance of being able to exercise with a friend for people living alone, if “too many people” were found to be “breaking this rule then we are going to have a look at it.”

It came after Boris Johnson also warned that tougher measures could be needed if compliance with the current rules are “not being properly observed.”

The Prime Minister said that while the existing lockdown restrictions could make a “huge, huge difference...where we have to tighten them, we will.”

"We need to enforce the rules in supermarkets. When people are getting takeaway drinks, in cafes, then they need to avoid spreading the disease there, avoid mingling too much," he added.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Mr Hancock also praised Morrisons over its decision to ban shoppers who fail to wear a facemask and called on others to do the same.

It followed criticism from Government sources over the lack of enforcement in some stores, with one stating: “The vast majority of people are sticking by the rules, but when you go to the supermarket it’s just chaos.

“When it first started it was one-in, one-out, one-way systems. That’s all fallen by the wayside.”

Officials are also increasingly concerned over the risk of transmission among customers forming long queues to collect items and fast food, with many people not wearing masks while doing so.

“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,” a source said.

Two others cited takeaway food services and non-essential retail stores, some of which have switched to click and collect to avoid closing during the third lockdown, as areas of concern.

However, ministers are believed to have ruled out extending any potential ban to supermarkets, amid concern that it would lead to delivery services being overwhelmed.

Speaking earlier in the day, Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said that while the risk from walking or jogging past someone was "very low", there was a “logic” for wearing masks in crowded places.

"If people for example are crowded together in a queue outdoors, if they're really huddled together round a market stall or something - that is a risk with this virus - and in that situation there might be some logic to people thinking about wearing masks,” he added.

A Government source said ministers were focussed on driving up public compliance with the existing rules, and that a less significant “tightening” of the restrictions was likely before tougher measures were considered.

Asked about restrictions around exercising on Monday, Mr Hancock said: "Yes, you can go and exercise in the park with one other person, but only one other person.

"And we have been seeing large groups and that is not acceptable. And you should be two metres apart from the other person.

"If there are too many people breaking this rule then we are going to have to look at it.

"But, I don't want to do that because, for many people being able to go for a walk with a friend, that often is their only social contact.”