Supermarkets are struggling to stock shelves amid this ‘pingdemic’ and have been very vocal about the need for flexibility in order for them to cope.

The latest figures show 4,450 people in Oxfordshire were told to self-isolate after being in contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19 in the week to July 14.

A customer who wished to remain anonymous said he was concerned about people stocking up on toilet rolls in a repeat of March last year.

READ MORE: NHS app 'pings' causing frustration in Oxford

Ahmad Nazari, who runs AGN Butchery & Grocery in Headington, said: “40 per cent of our supplies have been affected due to disruptions caused by self-isolation.”

We went to supermarkets in Oxford to find out the current state of affairs. At the Co-op we found an array of empty shelves, and a poster from the firm apologising for the lack of availability on items.

Meanwhile, Sainbury's showed a distinct lack of wines. 

The supermarkets’ call to action have been heard as the government have announced emergency measures in order to keep supermarkets fully stocked and shelved.

Daily testing of thousands of workers at over 500 sites will be offered as an alternative to self-isolation.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “As we manage this virus and do everything we can to break chains of transmission, daily contact testing of workers in this vital sector will help to minimise the disruption caused by rising cases in the coming weeks, while ensuring workers are not put at risk.”

This comes after a record 600,000 plus people in England and Wales were asked to self-isolate by the NHS Test & Trace app in the week to 14 July.