Brits ignore coronavirus lockdown to buy paint and garden tools
BRITS have been ignoring government rules to only leave the house for necessities and popping out to buy paint and garden tools.
Pictures show shoppers in Stockton-on-Tees exiting a B&M store with a variety of non-essential supplies despite the government advising people only to go to the shops for food and medicine.
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Pictures show people emerging from the B&M in Stockton-on-Tees with a variety of items including homeware
B&M has remained open during the coronavirus crisis, and is continuing to sell food and groceries in its stores along with DIY equipment and homeware.
The UK has been on lockdown since Tuesday, with the government strongly advising against all non-essential travel.
Anyone leaving the house for any other reason could be charged and handed a fine of up to £1,000.
Thousands of non-essential stores have already been closed in order to curb the spread of the virus.
After the lockdown, panic-buying has left many shelves empty across the country after Brits stockpiled a whopping £1billion worth of food in preparation for lockdown.
This has forced supermarkets to impose limits on the amount that shoppers can buy for the first time since the Second World War
Despite empty shelves appearing across the country, the CEOs of major supermarkets have constantly assured shoppers that there will be no food shortages or disruption to the supply chain due to the coronavirus.
Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda have set a limit of three for any item and two for essential products, such as toilet roll and handwash.
Supermarkets have also been forced to cap the number of shoppers in store to help people stick to the two metres distance rule put in place by the government.
Stores are now counting the number of shoppers who enter to get their groceries to ensure they're not overly busy.
Police have also encouraged Brits to use a telephone 'hotline' and 'snoopers' form to report anyone breaching the coronavirus lockdown.
Concerned citizens can use an online form to submit tip-offs if they see people breaking the rules.
In the UK, the coronavirus death toll surged to 1,019 today after 260 people died in the last 24 hours.
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There are currently 17,089 in Britain who have tested positive for Covid-19.
But today Brits were seen flocking to parks and beaches, despite warnings that stricter lockdown rules could come into force.
And government advisers have suggested "greater enforcement" of social distancing policies could be needed if the numbers continue to rise.
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