I didn't do anything wrong....did I?

[Funkyslippers]

DD desperate to see her friend who lives a few streets away. She made brownies and we dropped them on her doorstep, went back onto the pavement around 12 feet away, DD called her and she came to the door, took the brownies and said thank you.

They then call each other while we're walking home (social distancing all the way but not many people around) and her older sister shouts in the background "her mum let her do that? That was stupid!!!" meaning we shouldn't have brough the brownies round to her house. I couldn't see anything wrong with it. I mean, the postman delivers mail to houses each day. Am I missing something? Or is she worried about eating contaminated food - we washed our hands thoroughly during the process.

I dont know how many times I've seen on here 'it was your daily exercise' used as an excuse for people to do non essential things. Too many people in this country still dont seem to be taking this seriously enough

@Funkyslippers if the virus is transmitted in droplets then there's almost as much risk to them as if they give you a big hug.
The brownies, whilst I'm sure are delicious and made with love and the best intentions have been inside your house which is a separate isolation zone to your friend's house.

This is such a shit and confusing time. I'm sorry but I wouldn't have eaten them

Sounds reasonable to me, deliver brownies here anytime.

I wash all envelopes

Please tell me more about this

For those that success the brownies might be contaminated, do you also think that all carry out food places should be closed down? I’m genuinely interested, as I’m not buying any carry outs.

Virus lives on surfaces. I would be very unhappy if someone had dropped this on my doorstep. There's a sense that you are a lovely person but have no idea how serious this is. It is killing people daily.

I don't understand why people are saying they would bin them - surely you are eating food that has been picked, produced and packed in factories and supermarkets so will have many people touching them.

I don't think you were completely in the wrong as long as the walk was on your normal once a day walks you were just trying to bring some joy but I think just your DD and her friend saying hi as you walked past would have still been fun but wouldn't have been seen as unnecessary. My niece's party is on the weekend - it has been cancelled to outsiders but I am still planning on leaving her gift on the doorstep.

It wasn't an essential journey so probably shouldn't have happened.

The virus is transmitted via droplets or by touching surfaces on which droplets have fallen, then touching eyes, mouth or nose. It can't be transmitted via ingested food.

The brownies wouldn't give you the virus but the packaging could.

You shouldn't be taking brownies round to somebody's house, it isn't essential

This. My fucking god I despair at how few people seem to understand this.
When in Boris’ speech (or indeed details published on government websites after) say that non essential journeys must stop... unless you’re delivery brownies to someone’s house???

I think some people need some lessons in biology.
Eating home made brownies isnt not the same as sticking your finger in your mouth and asking someone else to lick it. It has never been and still isnt.

I dont think there is anymore risk of contamnation than with eating brownies coming from the supermarket (which will have been handled by many people).
And people leaving stuff on their daily outing is not a crime. The same than going to see a family member during your walk and speaking to them (you in the stree, them in the house. Through the windows).

What IS a risk of contamination is getting in contact with people by going out unnecessarly (eg the corner shop for some crisps or the newspaper), being in a shop/in the street and not respecting the 2 metres. Going out food shopping several times a week etc....

they covered this on the bbc last night, it’s fine assuming you wash your hands before touching the box and after when receiving

In bold for the people at the back

@amusedbush I doubt the postman put the Farmfoods leaflets through your door.

Well is was nice to bake brownies and drop them off, just not during the current crisis. I assume the sister is as germ aware as most of the pp’s who are saying they wouldn’t eat them.

How old is DD & friend? Just trying to imagine how much older the sister is.
Don’t lose sleep over it op. These are strange times.

You shouldn't be taking brownies round to somebody's house, it isn't essential

He ALSO said it was OK to get once a week for a walk/exercise (not everyone can run for example). And never said your walk had to avid anyone you know that is living close by.....
If someone wants to do their walk on a route that going near a friend, no one is stopping them. The OP didnt go out ESPECIALLY to drop the brownies. therefore, it wasnt a non essential trio that shoud never have been made.

Btw, yes many people do say theyve used their daily outing to do x and y. because ts pretty normal and common sense to try and maximise the 'use' of that daily outing to do the things that happen to be important to you.
I am going to assume that the government and the EXPERTS advising it will know better than MNtters if going out once in the day is ok or not.

I would have thought sharing food, apart from in situations where is it necessary, would be one of the worst contamination risks isn't it? You may have washed your hands, but presumably, you would have been breathing near enough to the food to potentially contaminate it while you were wrapping it up. The risk may be minuscule, but that's surely the point - if we all make an effort to avoid all the non-essential things that carry small risks, then we are reducing the risks significantly as a community.

When there are people who are struggling with the effects of isolation and social distancing on their mental and physical health, it seems so needless to be carrying on with this kind of activity. Even if it only increases the risks a little bit, everyone doing the same adds up to a much more dangerous scenario.

The brownies wouldn't give you the virus

Unless they’ve been coughed on. And as the recipient I’d have no guarantee that wasn’t the case so they’d go straight in the bin here.

It’s the sort of thing where you explain to your child that it’s a lovely idea, but we can’t do it at the moment, and stick to the rules we’ve been given.

@QuestionMarkNow - people can exercise every day not once a week!

If you where passing on your daily exercise then no i don't see what's wrong with that

In the absence of any qualified epidemiologists on here - I would be following the guidance to the letter and not engaging in any activity that I though could possibly risk contamination. This is one of those activities IMO. It’s not forever, this isn’t essential. Just don’t fucking do it.

most people I've spoken to are quarantining or cleaning their post

I for one am putting mine in the washing machine at 90 degrees. Might put it in the dishwasher too, just to #staysafe

First thing on the List:

’Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)’

Where does it say there ‘and to drop off brownies to your mates’ ???

Calm the fuck down guys. Why does it matter that it wasn't essential, OP already said they WALKED DURING THEIR ONCE A DAY EXCERSISE. That is allowed. The essential journeys are regarding driving and public transport, neither of which took place in this situation. I despair at how hysterical you lot are. By all means follow the rules but stop fucking making up your own and not reading the OP properly.

OP, whether or not they want to eat the brownies is their choice. You did a nice gesture just one that is likely not appropriate at the time.

I'm really confused 😩
So, on your allocated daily walk, you delivered food, that you've made as a nice gesture, to a friend and you've maintained a safe distance.
How is that any different to collecting some doughnuts or cookies from the supermarket as part of your weekly shop and delivering them to a friend on your way home from the supermarket as a treat for them?!

Am I missing something really obvious?

This is getting ridiculous now! There is no way I’d bin homemade food someone had made me! The brownies had been baked and I’m sure the OP and her DD had washed their hands.
People seriously need to get a fucking grip.

@LittleRa

Well, I'll accept your apology at any time because he absolutely did.

My husband is a postman in the same delivery office (he does another local walk, not our house) and he was complaining that they were still being forced to deliver "door to doors", which are currently Farmfoods leaflets.