The Co-op has begun selling face masks in all its 2,600 stores, in disposable and reusable variants.
Both masks are non-medical grade, to avoid depleting supplies available to frontline health and care workers.
The disposable ones cost £3 for a pack of five, while the reusable ones are £3 each. The latter are machine washable and can be used up to 20 times, according to the Co-op.
“We are selling non-medical graded face coverings in all our stores at this unprecedented time,” said a Co-op spokeswoman.
“We know it’s important to reserve valuable PPE for health and care workers so these are not suitable for medical use but have been designed with customers in mind and are just one way we can be careful, along with social distancing and washing our hands.”
The Grocer reported yesterday Aldi had launched non-medical grade face masks in its middle aisle in stores as well as online, at £4.99 for two. The discounter is also launching disposable non-medical grade masks in stores this week at £5.79 for a 10-pack.
Face coverings are set to become compulsory on public transport from 15 June, in new requirements announced last week. Current guidance also recommends wearing them in enclosed public spaces such as shops.
Supermarkets were initially cautious about selling face masks, for fear of contributing to shortages for frontline NHS workers. Non-medical grade is seen as an option which avoids doing so.
As revealed by The Grocer last week, most major supermarkets are now expected to begin selling face masks within the next three weeks.
Chris Patterson, MD of TSL, one of the companies supplying the masks, said: “Supermarkets have been incredibly responsible and professional in the way they have gone about this. They made it clear that they didn’t want to touch any supplies that could possibly have helped frontline workers and that continued to be the case.
“However, as we move to the next stage of lockdown, it makes sense for people to be able to buy masks from our major supermarkets.”
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