Supermarkets are extending the financial support they pay to staff who need to self-isolate because of the coronavirus.
Asda had already agreed to pay wages to workers forced to isolate for 12 weeks.
Now it said it has gone a step further, offering full pay to vulnerable workers who have to self-isolate for 12 weeks, such as those aged over 70 or who are pregnant.
The support is also being offered to its workers caring for extremely vulnerable people.
Tesco has also said it is giving 12 weeks fully paid absence to its near 3,000 staff over the age of 70, along with vulnerable and pregnant staff.
The superstores have gone beyond current government guidance which recommends vulnerable groups practice strict social distancing.
Like other big supermarket chains Asda has also announced new measures to help keep customers and colleagues safe including clear signs in its stores, directional barriers and floor markings to help shoppers stay 2m apart.
Hayley Tatum, Asda’s chief people officer, said: “Protecting our customers and colleagues has always been our main priority throughout these uncertain times and we want to do everything we can to help keep them and their families safe.
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“We don’t want any of our colleagues worrying about being paid if they need to self-isolate as a result of Coronavirus which is why we’ve take the decision to pay them for the next 12 weeks.
“I am so incredibly proud of our colleagues and all of their hard work through this difficult time, as they continue to support our customers and their community”.
Earlier this week the supermarket said staff playing their part to serve customers during the pandemic will get an extra week’s pay in June.
Tesco, meanwhile, is rewarding its permanent staff with a 10 per cent bonus, backdated to March 9 March, through to Friday, May 1.
Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: “Colleagues who are in isolation are receiving full pay from their first day of absence, so that nobody finds themselves in a situation where they have to work when unwell.
“To help support our team, we are recruiting an additional 20,000 temporary colleagues.
“We’ve already appointed 12,500 new colleagues, but we will need more.
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“We are also bringing in 8,000 new colleagues in driving roles, and we are training them as fast as we can.”
Tesco is also bringing in a simplified range of products and restrictions of three items per customer on everything it sells.
It has also introduced an NHS hour, and is opening to vulnerable and elderly customers between 9-10am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.