Today I went to a local homeware store to replace some much needed household items. It is a large chain claiming to be ‘safe’ and have ‘strict social distancing’.
Looked promising on arrival, screens up, staff wearing PPE and monitoring entry. Big sign saying ‘wait here until told to enter’ there wasn’t a queue though, we were waved straight in.
We got our items, following one way system, when suddenly it was packed, far too many people to Observe social distancing. Lots of staff members just standing around adding to the numbers and not challenging anyone or helping in any way (chatting to each other). No one could move without getting close to others. It seemed to come from nowhere. Nobody paid attention to the one way system anymore and we just had to head for the tills ASAP.
I thought maybe it was just a busy section but no the whole shop was super busy!
To add insult to injury the tills (Laid out in a giant L shape), forced everyone to walk along the back of others with less than 1 meter gap.
I fully appreciate that everyone else had just as much right to be there as I did and I’m not complaining about that, but why were the shop not controlling it better?
I have no problem queuing and waiting my turn to shop safely and at a reasonable distance from others like at supermarkets - one in one out system.
Surely stores opening and behaving this recklessly will just set everything back massively. If they say ‘we are safe and strictly abiding social distancing policies’ then that’s what I expect. AIBU?
I’m honestly starting to think that it’s just ‘business as usual’ again to everyone and I’m the one being precious.