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.

But then so is Alton Towers !

I went to a garden centre this morning and there were about 5 tables occupied and the customers had spread themselves well apart. There was a notice on the door about the measures they were taking to help avoid the spread of Covid19. They were also advertising a delivery service for their food. Looking at the masses of people queuing at supermarkets the garden centre looked a much safer bet.

@cantdothisnow1

Alton Towers is closed.

Midlands today this morning said it will be open but not Drayton Manor.
They are asking guests with Symptoms not to go but open otherwise when they open for the season.

See BBC Website - www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-51947612

apologies this is fast moving, they have now announced closure.

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

OK let me spell it out. If you put yourself at risk and catch it you will put others at risk while you are incubating it (e.g. supermarket staff) and while you are being treated (nurses and doctors). These people cannot go into isolation.

Your decision to put yourself at risk puts others at risk. It’s very selfish and short sighted.

Well judging by the age group I was surrounded by in M&S a little while ago, I don't think many over 70's need the encouragement.

Yep. In laws are 75-80 and swanning around like normal. Apparently they feel ok so it’s ok....I despair. They’re selfish bastards and to be honest I’m not sure they deserve treatment if they get ill when they’re ignoring government and medical advice. This age group don’t have to stress about work or young children, they just need to stay home but many are just too selfish to do that.

One of our local village pubs has started doing takeaway and delivery, and most wonderful of all has set up a village shop selling the restaurant stock that it buys at wholesale prices, including milk, bread, flour, rice, veg, meat... This is a very picturesque village that is usually four miles from the nearest shop of any description and seven miles from the nearest supermarket.

People cannot shut their business without a lock down for insurance purposes ! Blame Boris 🤦🏻‍♀️

Three cheers for your local pub Minniee

Just to clarify, I didn’t go in the cafe, but could see from the plants area how many people were in there. I felt quite isolated outside as it was raining and consequently there were only 2 other customers out there, felt much safer than when I was in Waitrose yesterday. I am extremely diligent about hand hygiene and as I live alone spend endless days on my own, but unfortunately have to go shopping once a week.

My DW works for a garden centre with restaurant. They are still open and the majority of customers are the elderly. They are busy buying garden furniture!

People cannot shut their business without a lock down for insurance purposes ! Blame Boris

Boris addressed this at one of the press conferences earlier this week. They can indeed claim against their insurance, the chancellor was to liaise with insurance companies to ensure that it happens. The biggest problem is a lot of them don't have adequate insurance. That's not the governments fault.

People cannot shut their business without a lock down for insurance purposes ! Blame Boris

I don't like Boris but that's really not the case.

People CAN close and claim on their insurance, but most people don't have the right insurance to claim on. I wish people would stop spreading so many untruths.

This is well worth a read. Wish everyone would!
www.euro.who.int/en/about-us/regional-director/statements/statement-every-country-needs-to-take-boldest-actions-to-stop-covid-19?utm_source=WHO%2FEurope+mailing+list&utm_campaign=93bb011baf-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_03_16_10_53&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_60241f4736-93bb011baf-110553333

Lots of small business are doing this around here.

My DH walked past Squires today and saw two people in total in the cafe - no mothers and children, as there would normally be at that time.

I'm fed up of the caring emails from companies I've subscribed to or bought from once, checking in to make sure I'm ok and reassure me they're doing their bit. Then offering me free postage. I get it, they need to keep businesses going etc but I dont need H Samuel emailing me assure me their already high hygiene standards are being rigorously ramped up.

Places that do this care more about finances than the health of their customers.

Most cafes are shut here (Waitrose has shut theres) but garden centres are open, most cafes that are open are encouraging people to sit outside rather than inside.

At the end of the day people are not going to listen to “guidelines”, until everything is shut down people will continue to go out.

The government need to get aid to businesses fast so they can close their doors for 12 weeks and help get this virus into some sort of containment situation. On the one hand we are all being instructed not to go to cafes, busy shops and make non essential trips etc but on the other hand giving places the option to keep open sends the message that actually it is ok to pop for a coffee or hang out in a warm, fuggy garden centre. It’s crazy. The local deli/cafe on the parade of shops near me was rammed this afternoon with older people. It’s like they’re all in for the coronavirus special. Either they’re thinking to hell with it or don’t understand the conflicting messages being sent out .

My daughter works in a restaurant - full time but zero hours contract. She has been cancelled going in to work every day now since Saturday as its so quiet. She has given notice on her room share and will move back home with us as she has no money for rent (sh'e has to give a months notice) or food. etc.. She works with people who have families to support and now have no pay coming in. She has been told she hasn't lost her job but what does that mean if she's not being paid.

My local garden centre, by contrast, have taken a different tack. They e mailed saying they are aware of government guidelines, but that it's also important that the over 70s stay active. So, they will deliver any gardening needs their customers have. So why not use this time to work on your garden.

I don't know who does their business strategy (nobody probably) but I thought this approach was brilliant.

People cannot shut their business without a lock down for insurance purposes ! Blame Boris

When I closed last week I had to think about a lot of things. Insurance was way down the list.

I thought about the possible contaminants I would create. Viruses can survive on material and some surfaces. So, if I have it, I could essentially pass this on that way. The chances are very small, but I don't want to risk it.

I work with a local delivery company, and over time I have gotten to know them. Many of them are wanting to work for the supermarkets to help get food to those who need it. Others, unfortunately, are having to self isolate. I fully support and understand their reasons.

It's rare I come into contact with people through my business. But those few interactions, I can help to reduce and hopefully reduce the spread.

It's going to be fucking hard. Of course, it is. I've had people suck in air, and say well that's it, your business is finished.

Here's the thing. If I stay open, I could in some way play a part in their death. Small, chance, but I need them alive.

By closing down, I am helping to send the message out that we need to stop non-essential travel. We all have to make sacrifices, some will be bigger than others. The NHS was already crippled, and now they are on the floor. I don't need to add to their work. Hopefully, this will help my current customers survive and, when this is over, they will come back. And hopefully, others will. The quicker this is done the better.

And yes, insurance will payout. I have had it confirmed today. Had I got inadequate insurance, I was also looking into the business loan that is currently available.

And in the meantime, if we are struggling, as announced the other day, we will be able to get some financial assistance.

I would really expect anyone in this situation would be looking at the closure eventualities, because like it or not. They will be forced to close if it comes to it.

Even supermarkets are closing their cafes ffs to get more stock in and minimise social contact.

Places that do this care more about finances than the health of their customers.

See, I don't think that's fair at all.

People need to work to survive. Even a few days extra work before an enforced lockdown is better than nothing. How do you propose these people pay the bills if their business closes?

Most insurance policies don't cover it and the grants and loans have to be paid back. How is that possible when peoples' businesses are going to go bankrupt because of all this?