With the national coronavirus lockdown still in place, delivery rules have been updated at some of the UK's biggest supermarkets – including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Iceland.
The new rules help to protect the most vulnerable and those who are currently shielding from the rest of the public.
Increased hospitalisations from the latest coronavirus wave has meant many UK supermarkets has changed their delivery services to prioritise those who truly need slots.
Various rules have now been put into place that have changed people shop in-store and online.
This has meant it's become quite difficult for some to secure a delivery slot.
Here are all the latest delivery slot updates at UK supermarkets.
Tesco
Being the UK's biggest supermarket, Tesco has tried to set an example of how supermarkets handle the current pandemic.
The store has introduced a number of measures to make sure those who really need delivery slots can get them.
It has also requested that anyone who is currently able to shop in-store does so.
This means Tesco can free up slots for those vulnerable people who are relying on the online service.
Tesco has also increased the amount of delivery slots on offer to customers.
Its website reads: "We’ve more than doubled the number of online slots to 1.5 million each week.
"This is to help anyone who’s unable to shop in‐store – especially our most vulnerable customers – so they can access our online service.
"Last week, we delivered more orders than ever before, and we’ll continue to increase the number of online slots available."
Tesco has changed how their home deliveries work too.
A spokesperson said: "Our deliveries are continuing, and we’ll deliver to customers in self-isolation.
"Our deliveries are continuing, and we’ll deliver to customers in self-isolation.
"You can let us know that you’re in self-isolation when you order (using the delivery notes box) or let the driver know at the door so that they can deliver safely.
They continued: "Our drivers have also been told how to check a customer’s age during these circumstances.
"For example, they may ask you to verify your age by showing them proof of identification, where possible, either from a distance or through a window/glass.
"You can let us know that you’re in self-isolation when you order (using the delivery notes box) or let the driver know at the door so that they can deliver safely."
Asda
Asda has remained committed to helping the most vulnerable throughout the pandemic.
The supermarket is currently offering pre-selected food boxes, which can be sent straight to someone's front door.
It has also been working with the government to try and deliver as safely as possible.
A statement on the Asda website reads: "To help reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and to keep you and our colleagues safe, all our delivery drivers and collections colleagues will maintain at least a two-metre distance at all times.
"Our colleagues have been provided with alcohol hand gel and cleaning materials to keep our equipment clean for every order."
Asda also aims to deliver to care homes as a priority, meaning delivery slots may be thinner on the ground for everyone else.
The supermarket giant said: "At Asda we know that care homes do important work to help and support some of our nation’s most vulnerable people.
"So we have given our existing care home customers priority access to our delivery slots.
"This is an extra Asda initiative alongside our work with government."
The supermarket added: "Understandably the demand for online shopping is really high, please check back regularly as we continue to work on increasing our capacity."
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's are doing all they can to make shopping safe and hygienic with a number of new measures.
The supermarket has removed bags from their deliveries in order to ensure the home delivery process is as hygienic as possible.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "We’re continuing with bagless grocery deliveries currently.
Bagless deliveries helps shoppers with social distancing in-store and is much quicker to pick.
"This means we can give as many people as possible access to Groceries Online, which is an important service right now, particularly for elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers."
Sainsbury's has also prioritised vulnerable people. Those on their elderly, disabled and vulnerable list (EDV) are given prioritised delivery slots, which make sure they don't miss out.
A statement on the Sainsbury's website reads: "We’ve been working hard to expand our service across home delivery and we are now able to offer home delivery slots to many of our customers.
"We’re continuing to prioritise access to home delivery slots for vulnerable customers and we are releasing new slots regularly."
They added: "We don’t currently have restrictions in place for amount of delivery slots per customer, but we are monitoring this closely and will make our customers aware if this changes.
"If you’re unable to find an available slot, please check back regularly as we continue to release new slots."
Morrisons
Morrisons has prioritised delivery slots for vulnerable people, with the supermarket introducing ways for them to book slots further down the line than other customers.
This special feature is also available for those who have paid extra for a Delivery Pass.
It is hoped this will allow vulnerable customers to receive their food deliveries, even if slots disappear quickly.
A statement on the Morrisons website reads: "All our slots are shown online on the website.
"Delivery pass holders and people on the government vulnerable list can see up to to 21 days of slots available.
All non-delivery pass holders can see up to 7 days available slots in advance.
"All available slots are shown on the website.
"We do not add customers onto the vulnerable list the list is provided by the government."
Morrisons have also apologised if deliveries are late during the pandemic, and have promised to get in touch with customers if this lateness affects them.
The supermarket wrote: "We are working very hard to get your shopping to you on time in these exceptional times."
Iceland
Iceland was among the first stories to launch measures to protect vulnerable people at the start of the pandemic.
It was also the first major supermarket to introduce priority in-store hours for elderly and vulnerable people.
These have now stopped, but Iceland has kept certain restrictions in place for these people online instead.
The supermarket said: "We are prioritising those on the UK governments' official 'shielded' lists of the most vulnerable people, and have made direct contact by email with those who are already on the Iceland customer database to offer them priority shopping opportunities.
"We continue to support the effort to feed the nation during the outbreak, and have taken a number of measures to reach those most in need during recent months.
"We are offering priority slots to the most vulnerable people, and although we can't offer a priority slot to everyone with suspected symptoms, availability of slots for our online delivery service remains good.
"We would encourage anyone in this position to book a slot using our website, or ask a friend or neighbour to shop on their behalf and deliver their shopping, adhering to social distancing measures."
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