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Tesco has become the latest supermarket to announce plans to recruit new staff to cope with the coronavirus outbreak overwhelming stores.

The UK’s biggest grocer said it will recruit 20,000 temporary workers for at least the next 12 weeks.

Its recruitment drive was launched on Wednesday, adding “since then we have already been overwhelmed by support from the public and thank everyone who has applied to work with us in stores.”

Some staff are being interviewed, processed and working within the same day, Tesco added.

Tesco’s HR chief, Natasha Adams, said: “I’m so proud to be welcoming thousands of new colleagues to Tesco. Thank you to everyone offering to help as we work day and night to keep our shelves full for customers. The community spirit at Tesco is fantastic and together, we can do this.”

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The decision was made as Asda, Aldi and Lidl all announced new jobs on Friday, which followed similar moves by Morrison’s and Co-op earlier in the week.

Supermarkets across the country have been struggling with overwhelming demand, and are expected to see an increase in shoppers over the weekend after the Government’s decree to shut down all restaurants and bars.

Lidl is looking to recruit 2,500 workers under four-week contracts to start immediately in stores to help restock shelves and assist staff.

Meanwhile Aldi said it needs 9,000 new workers to cope, which includes 5,000 temporary slots and 4,000 permanent.

Asda has also revealed plans to hire 5,000 temporary employees and shall be working alongside 20 national businesses who are being forced to let staff go so that their workers can be redeployed.

On Thursday, Co-op announced they are creating a mixture of 5,000 new temporary and permanent store-based posts, and on Wednesday, Morrisons said it is set to create 3,500 new jobs as it expands its home delivery service to cope with the soaring demand for food items amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Morrisons said they would be recruiting around 2,500 pickers and drivers, and will be hiring around 1,000 people for its distribution centres.