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Covid

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Original poster

Are you going out today?

140 replies

Bridgeofpies · 21/03/2020 09:25

If you aren’t self isolating (of course) are you going out today?

We are thinking of going to a National Trust place so that we can go for a walk. Obviously we will be staying outside, keeping a safe distance from everyone else and will bring our own sandwiches. We won’t let the kids use the play area (if it is even open).

I’m finding it hard to risk assess! Now that the kids are off school I am keen to get outside and get then running around as much as possible but obviously want to be sensible!

OP posts:

IntermittentParps · 21/03/2020 11:52

Yes, I'm working (I work at home anyway, so that's no different), but I need to get out at some point every day or I go stir-crazy. I'll probably go to the park; I went yesterday and it was quiet enough that I could stay well away from others.

BiarritzCrackers · 21/03/2020 11:52

Neighbour just packed his clubs into the boot and headed off for a round, as apparently golf clubs are open. They will get quite densely packed rather quickly then, as there is little else to do. I guess that won't last.

Ilikewinter · 21/03/2020 11:54

We went to Tesco at 6.30am, not too busy, the shelves were being filled so we had to double back to get some stuff, keeping distances at the till, all civil. Dropped food off at MIL who is 80 and housebound so i stood at the door and shouted through the hallway wall to her!.
I really wanted to get some garden plants but felt wrong to be thinking about going to B&Q, anyway we went and oh my god - it was packed, queues as bad as the supermarket, we turned around and left.
I imagine people are planning to get a lot of DIY done when we inevitably have to go on lockdown.

WaxOnFeckOff · 21/03/2020 11:56

Somone had a hacking cough down one of the aisles. People still don’t seem to get the self-isolation if you have symptoms thing.

They may have had it and finished their 7 day isolation? I still have a cough from time to time and I'm on day 9. Changes in air temperature tend to kick off a cough, so walking down the chilled aisle might be enough to set it off.

NothingIsWrong · 21/03/2020 12:53

I took each child on a bike ride separately (mostly cos they go different speeds). So they did 11km each and I did 22km. Knackered now.

SisterVanHelsing · 21/03/2020 12:55

Beach walk later on and will try and do a bit of the coastal path tomorrow as well. Sandwiches and thermos.

Remmy123 · 21/03/2020 12:56

Walk with my neighbour

BlusteryShowers · 21/03/2020 12:57

I've taken my toddler to the beach and let him use the playpark as there was nobody else on it.

Peanutbutteryogurt · 21/03/2020 13:00

We're going to walk down to the beach for some fresh air, I expect it will be very quiet except for a few dog walkers.

Lovelydovey · 21/03/2020 13:01

We are going for a scoot around a local park. We all need some exercise. But apart from that we are not leaving the house.

onemouseplace · 21/03/2020 13:02

Yes, we walked up to the Common and it was good to get out. People need to learn to stop to the side of paths though, rather than bang in the middle.

GirlCalledJames · 21/03/2020 13:11

When it gets really bad you may feel guilty about your walks and runs today irrespective of the current guidelines.

megletthesecond · 21/03/2020 13:12

For a bike ride away from people. I know which routes are quiet and will turn back if there's people around unlikely knowing what our car living town is like.
I really don't want DD to have meltdowns so we need some exercise.

Onceuponatimethen · 21/03/2020 13:22

No - we are staying at home. I think the figures look worrying

AliasGrape · 21/03/2020 13:24

Went really early morning to walk the dog, he’s old so doesn’t always want to go far and this morning didn’t want to go past the end of the road. I brought him home and decided to walk a bit myself as I was enjoying the fresh air so just had a half hour wander listening to my audiobook. I saw one other person and crossed the road when I spotted them in the distance. I’ve been distancing (not isolating) as pregnant and have asthma.

DH has dropped some food off at his parents but just left on the porch and then had a chat (at a distance) through the window. As he was coming back our 80 year old neighbour called to him from her front door so he stood at the end of her garden path talking to her, and I went to join in from our front door to offer her some soup I’m cooking.

That’s probably it as far as social interaction goes for us today!

We might try and get out somewhere quiet/deserted for a walk tomorrow, there’s a spot we go to where we never see more than one or two other walkers and it’s easy to keep distance. The path we take normally leads to a busier/ more populated place but we’ll avoid that and stay where it’s quiet. Having said that, I’m still not convinced because if others have all had the same idea there might be more people - maybe if we go really early?

TheLadyAnneNeville · 21/03/2020 13:38

Have driven to the canal and walked a few miles with the dog. Saw a cyclist who whizzed by and a couple with an old dog. Saw a family with two kids on scooters.

Otherwise, not a soul. We each gave the others a wide birth and I pulled my snood over my nose/mouth when passing. Also, wearing big sunglasses.

QuimJongUn · 21/03/2020 13:49

I’ve been to a friends for coffee

Walk with my neighbour

Are you for real?!

duvetaddict · 21/03/2020 13:53

Going to a friends house, not social distancing! Every unnecessary contact is putting everyone at risk. People saying it's up to them, no it isn't because you are going to take us all down with you!

QuimJongUn · 21/03/2020 13:58

In answer to the OP - yes, we'll be going for a short walk later for fresh air. No need to go to any shops today or tomorrow but will probably need to on Monday. We (me and DH and adult DD) live in a very small third floor flat with no balcony so we pretty much have to go out of we want any fresh air at all, bar opening a window!

In response to the advice that if anyone in your house is showing symptoms none of you can go out for 14 days - of course I understand why, and how essential, this is. However what do you do if you need food/prescription/meter top ups and so on? If one of us shows symptoms we will have absolutely no choice but to go out, however much we do not want to. There are no supermarket delivery slots for weeks and we have absolutely no friends or trusted neighbours who can help. There must be thousands like us. We can't starve or have no power, but at the same time we don't want to potentially spread the disease. So what do we do? Stocking up bit by bit in case of self-isolation isn't an option because there's nothing in the shops and many can't afford to put £100 or whatever on their meters in one fell swoop, particularly if you're on benefits or have been laid off.

Eon say they'll loan you £50 of emergency credit on your meter - but you have to go to the shop 3 times, potentially with CV if you're about to isolate, to activate it rather than it just be loaded onto your meter! Madness.

Smarshian · 21/03/2020 14:02

There are plenty of community groups offering to run errands for those self isolating. I would recommend calling your local shop if you are struggling. Ours are offering a delivery/ collection service, no social contact.

Bringringbring12 · 21/03/2020 16:46

Single parent here
No family
If we need to completely self isolate (and it’s not me that’s I’ll, then I will absolutely be have to go out to get provisions.

If I am ill, then it will be lots of bowls of dry cereal!

BuzzingtheBee · 21/03/2020 16:53

No. Husband been to tesco

lightlypoached · 21/03/2020 17:13

Was going for a walk in Richmond park but neighbour told me it was rammed, with people queuing for the car park. stayed at home and did gardening, which was nice.

Menora · 21/03/2020 17:19

I went out to a petrol station I knew would be pretty much empty. It was only me and 1 other person and I stayed away from them and paid contactless the rest of the time I spent in the garden. I do need to walk my dog though so I will do so in a little while and stay away from other people

Original poster

Bridgeofpies · 21/03/2020 19:50

Those who did go out how busy was it??

In the end we didn’t go to the NT place but I am keen to go soon. We had to go to our local shops which were heaving! We were inside for the minimum amount of time, I used anti-viral hand sanitiser every 2 mins (after touching anything) and made DD put her hands in her pockets so she didn’t touch anything but it was much busier than I thought it would be!

OP posts:

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