Appalled at the email I just received!

[PoptartPoptart]

I just received an email from my local Squires Garden Centre saying that their cafe is open as usual and basically encouraging everyone to go along to have a coffee and a look at the plants!
Am I alone in thinking this is bloody irresponsible?
A lot of their clientele will be over 70 and the government advice is for this age group to be socially distancing themselves from public places, not sitting in a bloody cafe that will probably also be frequented by mums and young children. Actually, the government advice is for everyone to avoid public places unless essential.
I honestly can’t believe they are using their email distribution list to encourage people to go along in direct contrast with the official advice.

It's really difficult at the moment.

People will lose their livelihoods if they don't get customers. Plenty of small businesses are family run and owned and people can't afford for them to be shut. Pretty much everywhere here is open but with alterations - less tables so there's more space, takeaway/contactless food delivery instead of eating in where possible, etc etc.

If the only income you had was your business, would you willingly close and put yourself out of business? Put your employees out of a job? Because this won't be temporary for lots of people - once they close they won't be able to re-open again.

I’ve had a few ‘WTAF’ emails too.

However, I blame Boris’s ‘playing it down routine’ (wash your hands & everything will be fine) & even now saying ‘the NHS is ready for this’ (when it’s absolutely NOT) for some people being so casual with it. People really just do not realise how devastating this is going to be!

I had an eye test a few weeks ago and (stupidly) hadn’t got around to going in to get measured & choose the frames (first ever glasses, so they need to measure me). I’m basically ‘hiding out at home’ as I have diabetes and HBP, so only going out for absolute essentials. I can’t decide whether this is or not? (Technically I need them for driving, but not sure I’ll be driving much anyway, the reading glasses would be nice to have while stuck indoors). There’s absolutely no bloody way I’m eating or drinking out of the house, it’s incredibly irresponsible to encourage older people to meet up to do so.

why dont they start delivery services-take away only theres other ways to go about business

People really just do not realise how devastating this is going to be!

I think a lot of people do realise, they just can't afford not to work while the government is giving them a choice.

If can cope for now with them amelie i would leave it-theyd have to tuch your face quite alot its just not worth it

Transmission happens in close contact, for 15 minutes or more. (dr on the radio).

I am completely disgusted by the Daily Fascisti and wish the government had power to shut them down.

They could not be more hysterical and goody if they tried. Disgraceful newspaper reporting.

goady

I know of several places locally who are trying to get people to visit them. It's a disgrace.

If it is outdoor and every other table said dont sit here not in use it might not be so bad but still irresponsible. They need to offer click and collect or delivery.

My niece works in a gastro pub in London, they are staying open until the Govt forces them to close. They have told the staff when they close none of them will be paid. My niece isn’t worried about Covid (she’s young (23) & healthy. She was coming down to stay for a week in April, I’ve asked her not to.😢. Obviously she can come & live here if she needs/wants to (if she has no job to pay her bills - I’m her only family in the UK) I’ll bleach her/her stuff when she arrives!! And there will be ‘rules’ but she knows how vulnerable I am. But not just for a week’s visit!

Not sure why the owner of the pub(s) isn’t taking the Govt grant to keep the core staff on until they can reopen, because he could then reopen at a pace & their customers will fill the place, if he has all new staff they’ll be screwed! Seems SO short sighted!

I am in Germany, which is on strict measures, all shops, bars, restaurants, museums, galleries, schools, gyms, parks, playgrounds etc etc closed with SOME exceptions: supermarkets/grocery shops, chemists, garden centres and petshops, some restaurants.

Did they say that the garden centre and cafe will be clean.? Are they washing every chair and table ? I get emails saying my gym is cutting down the numbers of people attending classes, so they feel they are following government rules by distancing people, and cleaning everything.

There's an idiotic post going round Facebook at the moment about how local pubs and restaurants are going to die off without your business, so if you aren't in a vulnerable group, make sure you pop along and spend some money. Of course, if you point out that it's a bad idea you get a load of angry reacts and #bekind bullshit.

Our local soft play keeps posting about how they're open and you can bring the kids round if they drive you mad at home next week. But don't worry, apparently they wipe down all the equipment every day.

Outdoor plant nurseries should remain open with conditions, sanitiser on entry and exit etc but cafe ? No!

Local Indian restaurant has closed it’s dining area and is offering a tiffin service 3-4 times a day with discounts for nhs workers and the vulnerable/elderly. It’s so popular they are the only local restaurant recruiting. If possible cafes and restaurants that can should move to a delivery model

Until we lockdown, it’s still up to the individuals to put themselves at risk or not

It appears it’s up to the individuals to decide whether they will put themselves and others at risk.

The government have done an appalling job of public information. They underplay, they lie, they exaggerate and they “nudge”, and they fail to give any assurance to businesses and people whose jobs are at risk.

It’s no wonder people are choosing not to modify their behaviour. We will go the way of Italy, and it could have been prevented.

Some of these emails and FB posts will have been pre-programmed. Someone just forgot to cancel them.

@wiseupjanetweiss not really. If you don’t want to put yourself at risk you just stay in isolation. Dont socialise with others who are putting themselves at risk

To be fair, another restaurant announced it was closing since they didn't want to take risks with either their customers or staff. Then they were talking about doing takeaways instead, which had a lot of interest. I understand this wouldn't work with most businesses, but there's no point burying your head in the sand and trying to carry on as normal.

Every single email I get from companies encourage social gathering I’m naming and shaming on social media.
At the moment I’m not doing this to small businesses, hoping the message gets through.

I’m also actively thanking etc companies that are working positively regardless of size.

I know it’s hard. I run my own company. Essentially I have no income at the moment, as posting stuff is none essential travel. I stopped taking new orders last week. And stopped getting new stock.

It has to be done if we want to try and get this under control. Look at the countries who have gone on lock down, new cases are reducing. It works and I’d rather take a financial hit of a couple of weeks than well make a bucket load now and who knows how long. Plus at the moment with all the panic buying there’s nothing to buy 🤣

Some of these emails and FB posts will have been pre-programmed. Someone just forgot to cancel them Like all the holiday ads in the papers.

My local trampoline place sent me an email today saying 50% off all bookings during March!!!!!

People dont get it.
Lockdown will happen.
People think it doesnt apply to them.

The big garden centre by us said they are closing the restaurant, and will take phone orders for plants and free delivery, garden furniture for sale still by appoinment only as they are there looking after the plants with the gates locked.

our tennis club, gym, sauna and bar (serving food) are still open!

Insane

I'm not going.