Seriously, just stay at home!

[iOnlyWearBlack]

I work in a petrol station so we are currently open for essentials / fuel.
But, I cannot believe the amount of people coming in for daily newspapers, drinks and sweets and generally browsing! Especially the older generation that don't seem to think it's serious at all.
It scares me, I have to be here but they don't. We're asking people to pay by card but most people are paying cash!
I don't want to be here and I'm terrified I'm going to take it home to my family.

Please people, stay home!!

The problem in our local village shops is that things aren't available that people need. So people are going frequently to they and buy them. there have not been toilet rolls or pasta for weeks, so people keep trying each day for them. One day there will be plenty of milk but no bread, the next day there will be bread. Meat is very sporadicly stocked. Can anyone explain how to get essentially items all in one go without being judgemental ? There are no delivery slots for weeks . I didn't stockpile as we were told not to. I guess all those smug people who did stockpile aren't having to shop at all ?

Supermarket worker here,currently in self isolation but returning to work on Saturday.
Absolutely terrified to go back but I have to go in.
People going out who really have no NEED to but just WANT to are really winding me up now!
STAY AT HOME!!!
Or come and get a job there if you like it so much,maybe then the rest of us who are terrified and taking this seriously can go home. See how much you like have things thrown at you at being spat at. It's not nice. I didn't sign up for this when I started the job!
Sorry,rant over!

OP you are absolutely right.
I would concede with Babyroobs to the extent that a small, neighbourhood type of shop, is probably safer to visit as long as it allows 1 person in at a time and the queue outside respects the distance between people and the shopper is mindful of social distancing towards shop staff.
However going to that same small shop a few times a week does increase the risk considerably to others (including staff) and to the shopper.
A big supermarket every 7-10 days has its own great risk because, yes, more people potentially contaminating surfaces and more human interaction which is not always within social distancing rules (human nature) but there’s more chance of finding more of the stuff you need in one go.
Ultimately, we all have to go without some stuff every now and then during these times in order to reduce the risk to others and to us.
Personally I’d go without bread or meat or eggs or milk for a few days without any problems. Not sure about toilet paper yet though. The regular newspaper purchase has been discussed before without success.

Can anyone explain how to get essentially items all in one go without being judgemental

Go to a bigger shop.

Maybe you could raise awareness in your community about this

The OP is raising awareness in a community. Mumsnet

OP
You have my sympathy. I was working in retail until a few weeks ago and felt nervous then, so I can only imagine what it feels like now. I also know what you mean about handling cash and people browsing.

They pick things up, look at them and then put them back on the shelf again. Repeat. It's almost as if some people are addicted to the physical mechanics of shopping and can't help themselves.

Also the amount of junk and crap people are still buying.

Good luck

Maybe people are buying the newspapers to wipe their arses on because they can't buy loo roll ?

Laiste - You say go to a bigger shop but on our local fb community page people are being called out for using their cars unnecessarily. To go to a bigger supermarket I would need to use my car rather than walking, therefore needing to fill up with petrol so putting petrol station workers at risk. Apparently people aren't meant to be driving unnecessarily because if you have an accident that will divert ambulance workers away from covid 19 patients. people will critisise others whatever they do.

I have to agree with op I live opposite a corner shop and it's so busy! I'm currently laid up on the sofa with symptoms isolating and watching the amount of people popping in for chocolate, ice lollies, wine every single day. I wouldn't be surprised if it's closed in a couple of weeks due to all the staff being in isolation due to having symptoms.

Shopping in your car once a week is deemed a necessary journey.

@Babyroobs the government hasn't said anything about driving cars. That's just local gossip. Your chances of getting covid 19 are 7-7 a week if you go out daily compared to most 1-7. Also you won't get symptoms straight away so you could pick it up on the Monday, spread to people Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday before you even know you have it.

You have the info, only you can decided if you take it or leave it.

Maybe people are buying the newspapers to wipe their arses on because they can't buy loo roll ? 😂😂😂

You wont need to fill up every week if you're only driving to do a weekly shop. (Unless your big shop is 80 miles away!) So that's one shopping trip per week and apx only one trip to the petrol station per month.

Compare to going into a shop 7 days a week ....

@Babyroobs you are part of the problem. Why can’t you see that?

If people don’t start staying at home, especially with the number of deaths increasing each day, the regulations will get tougher and be in place for much longer.

Im sure babyroobs is just trying to whine ppl up... There is no way she truly believes exposing herself to surfaces and polluted air on daily basis is the right thing to do.

They said car usage (or was it transportation in general?) had increased since last week so I expect tighter restrictions will come in regarding that soon (Just an idea. Obviously I know nada)

Fuel garages will start closing down like they are here (south west).

I live alone so I'm managing to restrict my shopping to once a fortnight.

Personally, I'd far rather go to my local supermarket where they have a very well organised one in one out system and get every thing I need once every 14 days or so, than go to a little local shop several times a week and still not be able to find the things I want.

And as for filling up my car? I have half a tank of petrol at the moment and don't anticipate having to fill up for quite a few weeks yet.

My local petrol station is less than 5 minutes walk away from my house and it's usually empty. So I've been in for milk and newspapers, it's better than going to the supermarket which I may not be able to get into anyway.

You do not NEED a newspaper They are still being published. Don't take it up with the people buying them, take it up with the people publishing them!

And the disease is not "in the air". Will people stop peddling this nonsense. We are actually told to open our windows and ventilate our houses.

@Babyroobs because it's not just about the people you see. It's about contact. Let me put it another way, someone with corona comes in your local shop. Picks up a load of bread and later decides they don't want it and put it down. Later that day you come along and pick up that bread. This is going to happen in EVERY shop. By doing this once a week your are reducing the risk. On the other hand is she buys 2 items a day or 14 items a week she is probably handling the same amount of things.

Personally, I'd far rather go to my local supermarket where they have a very well organised one in one out system and get every thing I need once every 14 days or so

You are very lucky if (a) they have everything you need and (b) you can buy enough of everything. I guess if you live alone you might not need the quantities, but if I were buying for 2 weeks I would need more than the allowed 3 bottles of milk for example.

Can anyone explain how to get essentially items all in one go without being judgemental

Buy what is there not what you would ideally like. Only a fool would expose themselves more than necessary. If you can't get eggs do without eggs.

It really isn't difficult and nobody will stave.

You should wear a face mask, glasses and latex gloves when you work there to protect yourself. And try not to touch your face during working hour. I agree with you. We all should stay at home indeed.

1forsorrow - I wouldn't just go for 2 items. I just feel very scared going into a large supermarket where hundreds of people could have coughed/ touched the trolleys etc rather than a small one which is much less crowded and you can absolutely keep distance from people. I do see the point about going less frequently and will definitely try to limit it a lot more. Just wish I could get a click and collect slot for a bigger supermarket, have bene trying for ages.

@cologne4711 Yes I realise that this is not something everyone can do, which is why I mentioned that I live alone.

I wasn't saying this is something everyone can, and/or should be doing. I realise it's not an option for most people, but the vast majority of people do not need to go shopping every few day, or several times a week.

Most supermarkets, from what people are saying, are fairly well stocked now that panic buying has reduced, and I would imagine that it's far easier to find the things most people want to buy in a large supermarket than in a small shop.

It's meant to be 20 degrees on Sunday so I bet lots of people go out.

I didn't stockpile in readiness for the virus. I have stockpiled for years. DH has been out once in 3 weeks to get fresh fruit and veg. We have run out of that now but have decided to just have frozen veg so we can stay home for at least another 4 weeks, maybe longer.

I always have lots of tinned items, different pasta, different rice, different lentils, beans, chickpeas. Bread and milk in the freezer plus I often make my own bread. Lots of home made soups in freezer and meals I have made an frozen.