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Original poster

Do think businesses re-opening is a coincidence?

26 replies

Bramblebear92 · 28/04/2020 21:36

Or they've received some kind of directive from govt? I get that a lot of these businesses maybe didn't need to close, but I've noticed over the past few days a big difference. We've obviously had the news of chains like McDonald's and Greg's possibly re-opening soon, but others seem to be too.

I walked into town today to collect a prescription and noticed people with take-away coffees, Joe Juice (or whatever it's called) had re-opened and the luxury chocolate and ice cream parlour with a line of people outside (bad weather for it though! )

I have to say it did make me feel a bit brighter. I'm in favour of extending the lockdown if it means we can avoid having to lockdown every few months, but I do feel like even these small changes like more shops opening makes things feel more bearable, probably because it makes us feel slightly more normal. So I do hope this continues with sensible measures in place.

P. S. Does anyone know why Boots has such extreme social distancing measures. They were only allowing about 3 people in at once 🤔 Just seems odd that you can have 10+ in teeny supermarkets but not somewhere much bigger.

OP posts:
HeresMe · 28/04/2020 22:06

Probably more likely another month is due to start and they can't afford to be closed much longer.

PersonaNonGarter · 28/04/2020 22:09

Boots has a pharmacy so more sick people in there. They don’t want anyone cramming in with people with symptoms.

AhGoGo · 28/04/2020 22:12

For many it will be open now or never open again. Even with furlough the costs don’t stop.

TJH130 · 29/04/2020 08:02

@AhGoGo you are spot on. Businesses can’t just stay shut forever, if they extend the lockdown much longer they might as well start turning the Nightingale Hospitals and Drive through testing centres into euthanasia clinics and send people in one by one as the resulting economic mess and many years of Tory austerity will kill many more people.

Inconnu · 29/04/2020 08:05

In Boots you typically only pick up a few items whereas you may be doing a big supermarket shop. So they can afford to be stricter with the rules.

DonLewis · 29/04/2020 08:10

It's taken businesses time to figure out what's possible.

RedAzalea · 29/04/2020 08:10

Some places have only just got enough appropriate PPE together for the staff

So now it’s safe they will open. They’ve observed other businesses operations in regard to social distancing

Waxonwaxoff0 · 29/04/2020 08:14

They've probably been making plans on how to reopen with PPE in place so the staff aren't at risk. I know that's what my work is looking at right now.

Summersunandoranges · 29/04/2020 08:16

I’ve noticed a few shops that are only admitting one person at a time I think it’s really odd.

I think businesses are starting to reopen because if they didn’t they would be financially fucked.

midgebabe · 29/04/2020 08:26

I guess Don that the advantage of the lockdown is that we are not guaranteed hundreds of thousands of deaths from either the virus or the virus triggered financial crisis...we know the risks of both so could try to avoid that, where as no lockdown , or your euthanasia approach, guarantees deaths

Yes many businesses needed to work out how to work safely and I am glad they took those opportunities

southeastdweller · 29/04/2020 08:30

I think some of the businesses rushed to close because they were worried they'd be shamed in the media, which would be very damaging to their brand.

PuppyMonkey · 29/04/2020 08:37

A company my DP does work for (glass and double glazing) has informed him they will be opening back up properly on May 11th. I don’t know who’s told them that date, perhaps they have a hotline to Boris?

Flaxmeadow · 29/04/2020 10:01

It's taken businesses time to figure out what's possible.

Yes and also that some businesses that could have stayed open at the start of the lockdown but didn't will open now.

Someone said on another thread that B&Q technically could have stayed open under the rules but chose to close until they had assessed the situation. They have now reopened

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 29/04/2020 11:28

opening back up properly on May 11th

School my friend works at is also making plans for the 11th

No idea if they have actually been told or just feel that if plans are in place they can be postponed

Redlocks28 · 29/04/2020 11:35

School my friend works at is also making plans for the 11th

That is extremely unlikely to happen.

Itisasecret · 29/04/2020 12:03

No, they were all businesses who were allowed to be open anyway. They either panicked and shut or took some time to adapt to social distancing.

Hugglespuffed · 29/04/2020 12:07

The only McDonalds reopening I saw was a hoax on facebook.
But like others said, businesses are losing so much money so I think if they are able to open with social distancing in place then why not? I guess the downside is more people out and about and more cars on the road. There isn't a simple solution which works for everyone.

Unihorn · 29/04/2020 13:28

I wondered this too. The restaurant I work for announced their closures the day before the full government announcement, as did several other restaurant chains, so I did wonder if there had been consultations and plans before the closure was initially announced. I assume it will be the same with stuff reopening. As far as I can tell, McDonald's reopening isn't a hoax. They announced that they were trialling how their kitchen operations would work with social distancing. There are very few kitchens that could operate with social distancing so it's unlikely to be a successful trial.

Summersunandoranges · 29/04/2020 14:05

A lot of businesses were forced to close as employees just refused to come in! Three weeks off and now the businesses NEED them back as they won’t have a job to go back too.

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 29/04/2020 16:21

just feel that if plans are in place they can be postponed

It may well be unlikely in which case it looks like the school are going with the above option

ifonly4 · 29/04/2020 16:49

I work in a school. They've stressed they do not have a date, but say 1st June is the earliest realistic date, and are asking for staff availability after that date

puffinandkoala · 29/04/2020 17:52

Does anyone know why Boots has such extreme social distancing measures

I was allowed into Superdrug yesterday but asked if I wanted the shop or pharmacy. I wanted the shop, but I don't know what would have happened if eg I had had a prescription or wanted an OTC medicine. I didn't ask.

puffinandkoala · 29/04/2020 17:54

I was a bit surprised when MCDs closed their drive-throughs but maybe it was because their "kitchens" are too small for the staff to socially distance.

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 29/04/2020 18:12

I work in a school. They've stressed they do not have a date, but say 1st June is the earliest realistic date, and are asking for staff availability after that date

Same as the school i work in, but not my friends

Personally it makes more sense to me to make it the beginning of june

Another friend works in a shop and they have been told june as well

Shitsgettingcrazy · 29/04/2020 18:15

yes and no.

We finally got the H&S executive to sign-off on our covid policies last week. So we are open.

Businesses that didn't need to shut, only did so to get everything sorted so they could open and maintian social distancing and good practice.

Theres not secret directive. Most businesses didn't plan on closing long term. They had to change how their business works.