NHS Coronavirus information. Information from gov.uk. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have health concerns, please seek medical attention.
Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
Why aren't people thinking more about the risks in the supermarket??
ACertainSupermarket · 18/03/2020 17:14
So I work in a major supermarket, obviously being affected by the panic buying.
I saw so many family groups, elderly couples, people with health issues (i.e. on scooters). The shop was heaving.
Stood in long lines having a good old laugh and natter with each other.
All potentially catching or spreading the virus.
Who knows who might already be ill, or a carrier? They say you can be contagious before you even show the symptoms.
Why aren't people taking this seriously yet?
Can you honestly say you just got the bare essentials you needed if you were out food shopping today? Apart from dog food (and eggs which were all gone but we can eat something else) I didn't NEED anything. My children said have you stocked up, and I showed them that there is food in the cupboards, fridge and freezer to make meals for weeks just with our normal stocks. And I don't have a big kitchen.
Can you please, PLEASE encourage your family members not to shop as a pack or out of habit, and to stay home if you have any underlying frailty? Us staff HAVE to be there, and would really like to stay healthy just as much as you would!
ACertainSupermarket · 18/03/2020 21:59
Tesco are introducing distancing at checkouts, wonder what that'll look like!
I haven't heard that but yes everyone should, it needs to be routine - even meeting friends. You cannot see viruses!
I'm starting to think about wearing a mask at work purely to make customers more conscious of the invisible danger - I wonder if I'll be allowed?
ACertainSupermarket · 18/03/2020 22:02
My fridge isn’t well stocked because I listened to the stupid people’s on mn who said not to stock pile 🙄
Sorry but they were not the stupid ones. You can't stockpile your fridge anyway, it won't keep for long enough and there's plenty in the shops (except god knows what people are doing with the meat, must be freezing it) - it's the non-perishable stuff people have gone beserk over.
CappyCapCap · 18/03/2020 22:16
My fridge isn’t well stocked because I listened to the stupid people’s on mn who said not to stock pile
You can stock your fridge/cupboards and not stock pile.
Dont know why people are pretending they cant read the OP.
She didnt say, dont go shopping. She said dont go shopping if you dont need to and dont make it a trip out for a load of your family, if you dont need to.
rookiemere · 18/03/2020 22:19
I went on Monday evening. It was ridiculous. one young man clearly unwell hacking his way round the counters, another teenage girl with her DF (I assume) looking totally unbothered as she coughed and spluttered through the aisles and yet I assume they had a car she could have waited in.
I feel so sorry for the staff exposed to all this potential infection source all through their shifts. They must be terrified they are going to catch coronavirus.
GrolliffetheDragon · 18/03/2020 22:30
although most of us would be able to think of someone who could watch them or go for you.
Yes, my parents. Who we're now not having over, and frankly I'd prefer it if they didn't go shopping. Luckily I have DH, if I didn't there is nobody local I could ask.
Defenbaker · 18/03/2020 22:34
OP, you have my sympathies, some supermarkets are like war zones at the moment. I totally agree, there's no reason why whole families should go shopping together, (unless a single parent family is desperate for some vital item, and has no childcare options). Shopping seems to be a popular pastime for some families, but that has to change, shops are not entertainment venues for bored kids.
Once again, it's the thoughtless idiots who are making a bad situation worse for everyone. Respect and thanks to all the retail staff who are keeping our shops running - stay safe.
ACertainSupermarket · 18/03/2020 22:51
Have to say I haven't seen any uncivilised behaviour, and customers have all been saying how silly it is to stockpile but we have been SO busy. That's what worries me, the sheer numbers of people in the shop - fortunately I'm not particularly concerned about catching it myself, just conscious that the more people are confined in a space the quicker this virus will spread and then our frailer loved ones are in danger. As I've said elsewhere tonight, my parents both died 'good deaths' well-cared for and pain-managed in individual rooms in hospital - the thought of them being triaged as non-viable for ventilators etc and basically left to die as the NHS starts to get swamped...makes me well up. This is what has happened in Europe. Don't forget Britain has less critical care beds per head than most other European countries.
adiposegirl2 · 19/03/2020 00:03
I had to go to a supermarket today with my children as cant be left home alone yet. I took precautions and was blatantly laughed at and ridiculed.
I think people are really lacking the psychological derexity to deal with this pandemic we find ourselves in.
If you are under what 70 years old and lived in Europe your whole life this is the only major event you've had to face. At least in a traditional war you know who your enemy is. But this is an invisible adversary- the stuff of Hollywood movies. So I guess some will be firmly rooted in denial.
I
flutterbean · 19/03/2020 00:28
I work in a supermarket, i have never been spoken to as rudely as I have been over the last couple of days. I have been called all sorts of names due to us restricting the number of products people can buy (tins/toilet rolls/pasta etc).
Please spare a thought to the supermarket workers you see and please make sure you say thank you, it's lovely and brightens up our days (especially at the moment).
squeekums · 19/03/2020 00:42
And don't go as often as you are used to.
that wont work, we have to go daily just to finish our weekly shop and see what available today on shelves. I need TP and will go daily till i get some, no choice, going without is NOT an option
Gotta buy dog food every 2.5 days as he only eats fresh and 2kg dont last long, he a big dog, nor can we freeze a large amount
As it is we had to hit 3 different ones yesterday cos shelves are being stripped clean. Panic buying is making people shop more just to try get basics
squeekums · 19/03/2020 00:55
I work in a supermarket, i have never been spoken to as rudely as I have been over the last couple of days. I have been called all sorts of names due to us restricting the number of products people can buy (tins/toilet rolls/pasta etc)
we chat to our local shop staff a bit, small town and all, they copping the same shit, mostly from the city people driving almost 2 hours out here to raid our shops and finding they not getting to buy 20 of each thing.
if i was right there when it happens, id be backing the staff as im betting many will, your literally just doing your job
DeeCeeCherry · 19/03/2020 01:03
My health isn’t good, my MIL lives with us and is elderly and has diabetes, high blood pressure and a thyroid condition. My Mum has dementia and COPD and my Dad relies on us doing their shopping and errands and making meals for them
That's a lot of vulnerable people put at risk by you still going into work and coming into contact with so very many people visitingtheinfidel 😯. Including yourseIf I suppose.
Littlebookwormiam · 19/03/2020 01:28
I'm with you OP. My DP works in a supermarket and it's a worry that he'll catch something from someone. The older generation sometimes still hold his hand while they're talking to him and people getting right up into his face when they're asking where this and that is and complaining why they're only allowed to purchase a certain amount of items. I try and shop by myself if I can, I ask DP to bring things home from work if there's anything left after his shift that is. The staff cant stock the shelves fast enough, once they're stocked the shelves are empty again. It's heartbreaking!
CappyCapCap · 19/03/2020 05:33
I took precautions and was blatantly laughed at and ridiculed.
What precautions did you take? Who ridiculed you, that's really crap.
Jesus. People are allowed to shop. The supermarkets are loving this. Two staff in Morrison's yestersay talking aboit how brilliant it was th3st they could work nights
Where did OP say you arent allowed to shop? And all staff arent loving this. Some might. Lots dont.
I agree with pp, lots of people are still in the denial phase. They dont want to accept thos isnt happening. They dont want to change what they do and they purposely twist what people have said to make it sound ridiculous. So they dont have to think about what they are doing.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.