The grocer’s chief executive Roger Burnley has written to customers asking them to “postpone going to stores until at least 9am”. He said this would “provide time and space for the customers that are most at risk to the current coronavirus outbreak”.

Asda’s move comes at a time when food retailers are putting a host of special measures in place to protect supply and safeguard the most vulnerable people in their communities.

The likes of Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Iceland have already launched similar shopping windows specifically for elderly and vulnerable people, designed to allow them to get better access to the products they need at a time when many consumers are stockpiling.