Since this was published a couple of hours ago I've been contact by many more desperate #HollandandBarrett workers. One said: "I hope you can help us put pressure on Holland and Barrett to close stores and stop taking risks with our lives. we are scared." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52206835

Another says: "As for people saying it's essential there is nothing that Holland and Barrett sells that can't be found in a supermarket, online through the website or order through a phone number. We are not a pharmacist, we don't stock paracetamol or sudafed."

A third: "My partner works for Holland and Barrett and I think it's disgusting that they're still open, putting myself and our family at risk. Of course she can chose not to work but this would put us in financial difficulty."

Another: "Holland and Barrett have found a loop hole by exploiting their health & wellness positioning by claiming they are an essential shop. They are NOT. They are doing the complete opposite, and putting all of their employees and their families at risk."

"The demographic for our shop are the vulnerable, the elderly. None of us are medically-trained, we are retail workers and never signed up to be essential workers."

If you want to sign the petition to support the workers' fight it's here https://www.change.org/p/h-b-ceos-and-directors-close-holland-and-barrett-stores?recruiter=1002707286&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=Search%3ESAP%3EUK%3ENonBrand%3EBMM&recruited_by_id=bc2cef80-cfe6-11e9-8246-03ab6385ae06

Another arrives: "I’m not naive. I know that a certain amount of this is expected in the retail industry, it's a business after all. But, given the seriousness of the situation we are facing, I find Holland and Barrett’s attitude towards the safety of their staff is appalling."

"From the start of this outbreak, even before the lockdown, we have been provided with very little in the way of protection. Hand sanitiser and gloves were promised, but never materialised. It fell to our own store manager to make home-made hand sanitiser."

A store manager writes: "I was off as I put in for two weeks self-isolation. No-one in my family was sick and I feel awful that I lied to my bosses to get out of work - but it was the only way I could get my store closed and safeguard my team."

A distribution centre worker gets in touch: “Social distancing in production factories is non-existent with employees working within metres of each other. A lot of workers are still coming to work with symptoms. The company said we don’t have to work but we won’t get paid.“