Here's why you will now be banned from entering certain Edinburgh supermarkets without a face covering on

As Morrisons and other supermarkets across the country have now announced a barring of customers who refuse to wear face coverings, here’s what you need to know about the new policies and why supermarkets are enforcing them.

Face coverings are required as customers are welcomed back to shopping centres, and new hygiene and distancing measures will be in place.

As of Monday, according to their new mask policy, Morrisons will bar those who refuse to wear face masks offered by staff, unless they are medically exempt.

Trained security guards at Morrisons, which has 6 main stores in Edinburgh, will be enforcing the new rules at their front doors.

Sainsbury's, which has 25 stores dotted around Edinburgh, also said it would question those not wearing a mask or who were shopping in groups and will place

trained security at their entrances.

The announcements come amid rising concerns that social distancing measures are not being adhered to in supermarkets and across the country.

UK Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News said the government is "concerned" shops are not enforcing rules strictly enough.

At her media briefing, Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the supermarkets’ new measures.

Currently in Scotland, a £60 fine can be imposed by Police Scotland to those who do not wear face masks in supermarkets with repeat offenders face bigger fines.

However, the new enforcement from the supermarkets hope to further stop the spread of the virus across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Morrisons said it had "introduced and consistently maintained thorough and robust safety measures in all our stores" since the beginning of the pandemic.

However, said: "From today we are further strengthening our policy on masks" to deal with rising coronavirus case numbers.

Morrisons' chief executive, David Potts, said: "Those who are offered a face covering and decline to wear one won't be allowed to shop at Morrisons unless they are medically exempt.

"Our store colleagues are working hard to feed you and your family, please be kind."

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive said: "I've spent a lot of time in our stores reviewing the latest situation over the last few days and on behalf of all my colleagues, I am asking our customers to help us keep everyone safe.

"The vast majority of customers are shopping safely, but I have also seen some customers trying to shop without a mask and shopping in larger family groups.

"Please help us to keep all our colleagues and customers safe by always wearing a mask and by shopping alone. Everyone's care and consideration matters now more than ever."

Other supermarkets such as Waitrose - with branches in Comely Bank and Morningside – said that it was taking a "cautious approach" to the virus, with marshals checking that customers are wearing face coverings on the door, hand sanitiser stations at its entrances and signage to shoppers reminding them to maintain their distance.

Tesco, which has ten stores in the centre of Edinburgh, said it was limiting the number of customers in store and was also reminding customers to wear masks.

Meanwhile, Asda, which has four 24-hour stores across the Capital, announced last week that it would extend its marshals' hours to 08:00 to 20:00 and increase how often baskets and trollies are cleaned.

A message from the Editor:Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.