Just got a letter to show the police when out

[incognitomum]

I'm a care worker and my boss has given is all letters to prove we're legit to be out and about. Am wondering if there's new measures coming? I've seen plenty out and about today when driving home.

I think this highlights the real problems with our society: how physically unfit we are as a nation and how fragile our mental health is.

A generally healthy individual can recover physically from being locked up - look at people who have been held prisoners, deprived of sunlight, fresh air, nutritious food , human contact etc. It is remarkable. Totally messes up with your head though.
This is an extreme example, but if you start with a balanced individual, with access to the internet and the possibility of opening windows regularly, they’d come out the other side still fully functioning and able to redress the physical and mental damage.

Of course going outside is of huge benefit to all of us. And I don’t want it to stop at all , but I’d comply if it means more people off the streets and out of shops who were not supposed to be there in the first place.

But I really wish people would follow the rules, they are putting themselves and everybody at risk. Instead of fines, those who don’t follow the rules should be given live video access to a hospital facility dealing with this crisis and to how the aftermath looks like in the mortuary afterwards in Italy.

You should be able to justify your trip as essential. Buying a paper (and going out solely to buy a paper) is not essential and yes can lead to a fine

Journalism is essential but a paper is not essential and going to buy a paper is not an essential trip.
It doesn’t matter young Johnny is classed as a key worker and he can still do his paper round. On a wider context, young Johnny could be asked to deliver essential items as he is like courier service. And young Johnny is one person potentially spreading his own virus as opposed to 10 people going to the shop with their own viruses to potentially spread around. There’s a balance. There’s common sense.

Journalism is essential but a paper is not essential
Newspapers are a crucial source of information and always have been in times of crisis. Not everyone has internet or even TV. Local papers are especially important right now.

Look, these are all excuses. You are can travel to buy food, medicine or go to a key worker job. All companies are issuing confirmation letters for key workers. Laws have been enacted, however unpalatable for some this may be, this is where we are.

DH really would have liked to read the paper the other day. We didn’t need any essentials on that day so I told him to use the bloody iPad and neither of us went to to get the paper when walking the dog. Sunday morning will be boring, we always have the Sunday paper but that’s life. I fully expect that Lots of people will suddenly decide to do their essential shop on Sunday!

I think this highlights the real problems with our society: how physically unfit we are as a nation and how fragile our mental health is.

I think it highlights lots of problems.

People keep talking about children who only have school as despite from and abusive home. Why are those kids even still in those homes? Most of these kids are known to be in this position. The bar for removing older kids from bad situation is so high, schools being closed are putting children in danger. It's not ok.

Yes its highlighted the problems we have with general fitness and the poor way we support those with mental health. So many people are on the cusp of having mental health problems or have milder problems and this can tip them over. But they couldnt access help 2 months ago because they were bad enough.

Its highlighted so many problems.

Buying a paper (and going out solely to buy a paper) is not essential and yes can lead to a fine
It couldnt on tuesday. And picking up a paper as part of your daily exercise is allowed.

And what's essential shopping? This is where people claimed the chocolate aisle was shut. That's not essential food.

Can you pick up a paper and milk? Coming back from exercise. Trying to fine those going out for a paper, is practically impossible.

In fact, has there been a verified account of a fine being handed out? Because this poster, said it had started. Before the powers to fine had come out.

If the Government wants newspapers to switch to delivery only along with other essentials that’s one possible solution. Banning newspapers or putting limits on a free press is not. I only posted to share what I know. And ‘young Johnny’ will be helping me pack food at the foodbank next week so we’ll have a key worker letter for that too.

And we are already on the community rota to deliver to older and more vulnerable people so there’s no need to be snippy about it.

The prime minister didn’t say people could only buy essential food. And a paper is an essential to people who might have no other form of access to news. Also newsagents are on the list of essential shops. People need to look outside their own bubble.

MigginsMrs exactly.

People seem to add their own bits in and the decide that is a rule, that everyone else must abide by.

Journalism is essential but a paper is not essential and going to buy a paper is not an essential trip.

You may disagree that its not essential. but at the moment, its classed as essential.

It's not down to you to decide what's essential for everyone else or what qualifies as essential.

Lots of newspapers have been advertising free delivery for 12 weeks (I worked in library until home work began so saw 3 every day). Pretty sure the Indy, Guardian and Times are all doing this. I guess they thought that it was going to be a problem if people popping to corner shop to buy...

I think its not sensible to be in shops every 5 minutes, try telling that to step father who stubbornly pops here there and everywhere for bread and milk. Putting DM in danger too!

Most people round here (small northern town) are being sensible, only a handful about when me and DS went for a jog this morning. No kids on park.

Cannot believe some people are saying chocolate is not essential - I certainly could not cope without it

These totally bizarre OTT posts give me a reason to sit and have a good chuckle every morning. Wow! There are so many experts, interpreters of legislation and people who knows somebody whose great grandmother’s best friend’s daughter’s dog’ was fined for buying chocolate!

Keep it up! It’s worth reading just to have a laugh.

I know this topic started and cantered around fines.
But the point is we absolutely must limit interaction. Yes the government issued guidelines, passed laws etc. But it is common sense that going to get the paper on purpose even if it’s part of the daily outdoor exercise does not constitute essential shopping. Apart from semantics, we all have to work towards accepting that we absolutely must stop going in and out of the shops unless we need to. And I maintain newspapers in their physical format are not essential. Access to news is but we can safely assume radio or TVs are available to most people. Most people buy the newspaper in addition to other sources of news.
I’m not saying the paper round shouldn’t be classed as a key job but it doesn’t make newspapers essential. It is part of of a delivery system which can and is employed for deliveries of other essential items as needed.

I am apparently going to get a letter for work and am not a key worker just going into work as I cannot wfh

I work in a supermarket and letters are being made available for us to carry to confirm our reason for travelling (as if the uniform wasn't enough!)

I wouldn’t worry about having a letter or not.