A supermarket in Wales has apologised after telling a woman she couldn't buy period products during the country's lockdown.
The Welsh government has banned the sale of non-essential items in supermarkets during the "firebreak" lockdown, with restrictive measures in place until November 9 to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Under the guidance, shops cannot sell goods including homewares, electricals, telephones, clothes, garden products, games and toys.
Following confusion over which products were essential or not, Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething said on Monday (local time) that supermarkets could sell non-essential items to customers who were "in genuine need".
His announcement followed a tweet from a customer who said on Twitter she was "raging and in tears" after not being able to buy period products at the Tesco's St Mellons supermarket in Cardiff because the aisle was blocked off with barriers.
Photos posted by Tesco customers to Twitter show tape, plastic sheets or barriers are used to show shoppers which products can and can't be bought under the country's restrictions.
Another customer asked Tesco why she couldn't buy pads because she's "sure they are essential to women".
The official Tesco Twitter account initially replied saying it was government policy to not sell these items in its stores.
This prompted the Welsh Government to tweet that sanitary products could be sold during lockdown.
"This is wrong - period products are essential," it said.
"Supermarkets can still sell items that can be sold in pharmacies."
Tesco later deleted its reply and issued an apology.
"Sanitary products are essential items and are available to customers in all of our stores in Wales. Due to a break-in, this area was closed temporarily in one store for a police investigation, but is now open again," it said in a statement, according to The Guardian.
"The reply to this customer, which implied these products were non-essential, was sent by mistake and we're very sorry for any confusion caused."
South Wales Police confirmed on Twitter it was investigating a burglary that happened earlier in the store where an estimated £20,000 (NZ$38,990) worth of beauty products were stolen.
Gething told reporters in Cardiff that he was "very saddened" to see a woman being told she couldn't buy period products.
"It's an incorrect reading of the regulations and guidance. I am very sorry that this woman was given this information. Supermarkets are open and trading as are many other shops and are able to sell a wide range of everyday items that we all need."
