Online Supermarket deliveries to stop if things get worse?

[Nolite77]

I was reading this document on the government website about retailers during a pandemic and it says once we reach alert level 2 & 3 of a pandemic

"Internet operations are likely to be suspended soon after a likely pandemic is confirmed and staff re-directed to keeping stores open"

I think a lot of people were planning to use food delivery services to minimise contact if things get worse and if they became ill themselves but from what I've read that might not be possible? I always use online food shopping but we all might need to make other plans!

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85916/flu_food_planning_assumptions.pdf

Wiltshire were great for my mum.
But they may have the same issues.
Can your parents cook for themselves- even heating stuff on the job?
Amazon Pantry - some tins. Speak to them about what they fancy. They will be more used to tins than you.

I always use online delivery also, I have a chronic illness myself and don't drive so its really helpful, but luckily my partner does drive so we could do without. Perhaps onlibe delivery could be limited to those who really need it like the elderly and disabled without other means? Would be problematic to determine who was eligable or not though!

*Could you look into the meals delivery Service like this one?

www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com*

If things get so bad that elderly people can't get food, it'll be a case of WRVS/Red Cross/council Meals on Wheels delivering emergency essentials...

... not just a case of trying a different online retailer.

I don't think things will get to that, but if they do, I don't think people have appreciated the size of the change to everyday life.

As for "people will expect delivery drivers to carry on working". They will be forced to, by law. And if we run short of them, and you have an appropriate driving licence, prepare to be called up!

As for "people will expect delivery drivers to carry on working". They will be forced to, by law

Which law?

Which law?

If and when activated the Civil Contingencies Act gives the govt broad authority to compel anyone to do (or not do) more or less anything within reason.

And if that isn't sufficient, the govt is planning new legislation and regulations within the next few weeks.

Myum to s 80,someone well meaning got her Wiltshire farm food vouchers.She was insulted and gave them away.You have to be a fam of very plain food to tolerate them.
My mum orders her food online as she can't carry much shopping so would be stuck coronovirus or not.If she gets ill I will be drive over,4 hours,as her heart probably won't withstand this.
Like many elderly people she will try to cope and not ask for help.

@jimmyhill If delivery drivers are in bed ill then no amount of legal threats to their companies or them will get them out, no would it be desirable for them to due to epidemiology.

Of course, under emergency power the government can do virtually anything, but what people aren't appreciating is complex emergency planning responses require both time and manpower to organise and execute - when huge amounts of people are sick this isn't available (this is on top of the current state of many, many public services)

Interesting, I would have thought the military would support logistics rather than force civilians to, mainly because military personnel don't really have a choice, hah.

Obviously ill delivery drivers won't be dragged out of bed, but the Civil Contingencies Act makes this irrelevant because it provides the govt this power:

"(k)require a person or body to act in performance of a function (whether the function is conferred by the regulations or otherwise and whether or not the regulations also make provision for remuneration or compensation);"

And that's how YOU end up spending part of this spring as an unpaid meals on wheels driver

Parsley Box is an alternative to Wiltshire Farm Foods - the key advantage is that they don't need to be kept chilled and have a 6 month shelf life, so they're good for this scenario.

Jeez I hope not

That’s my job!

@jimmyhill

Central government emergency planning since end of WW2 historically focused on the "nuclear" situation - which anticipated a long (weeks) lead in to the event AND a massively bigger public sector (and much more state control of industry etc than we have now), since the end of the cold war emergency planning has focused on a event effecting say one city or region on which the resources of the rest of the UK can be directed too.

I see lots of posts saying the police/army/civil service/council/NHS can do x,y and z forgetting than many of these organisations are the smallest they have been for years and in this scenario these organisations would be having similar levels of absence due to the virus.

Tesco driver today told me that the Tesco strategy is: all drivers have wipes/gloves etc. The little machines to sign are wiped each us. They have no plans to end deliveries, and they WILL deliver to anyone in quarantine - they will leave shopping in bags by door.

Online delivery is 6 to 7% of the market. Leaving out staff illness I doubt the companies could up that a great deal to cope with an increase in demand. Factor staff shortages in.....

Maybe Ocado staff will be forcibly conscripted to go and work for tesco and Asda! 😬😬

Yeah the delivery drivers where I work have come into contact with people self isolating.

They had to leave the stuff at the door

NeckPain, I don't think its about infection risk to drivers but about moving all available manpower to the stores if need be. Also it might not be at the discretion of the company if the government rolls out emergency powers.

Thanks everyone - all my folks neighbours are 70+ ... it’s an estate of bungalows ... I’ve got them 2 weeks stocks already but might get more !

For those housebound I would suggest you start buying extras in your shop if you can afford to. Long life milk, tinned foods and cereals and extra bread for the freezer.

But that's an isolated publication.

There is plans that's have been discussed about people from schools helping if schools close and the armed forces etc helping out.

Not just with shopping obviously but with anything that was required to be supported.

Armed forces medics, lorry drivers, military police etc all have vital roles in supporting the world I'm sure they could manage!

It's the sort of plans that were activated during the war. And if we can do it on that level ......!

Nice for those who can use Ocado, they don't deliver here in Scotland!

I assumed it would be harder to get an online delivery because there would be far more demand.

@itsgettingweird you do know that the armed forces are currently the smallest number since the 19th century?

"For those housebound I would suggest you start buying extras in your shop if you can afford to. Long life milk, tinned foods and cereals and extra bread for the freezer."
Don't say so on MN because you'll be accused of being an idiot scaremongering weirdo.

Do you work with the military rosehip?