I'm feeling concerned for myself, and for my neighbours in the block where I live. And have wondered how people are managing in other, often much bigger, more crowded blocks.
To explain: I'm a council tenant living in a second floor flat, small block. There are leaseholders here too. I got back earlier to find 3 builders who are doing work in one of the leaseholder's flats on my floor, in the middle of an animated conversation just a few few feet from my front door (and another family's, not the one having building work). It's on an indoor landing, pretty airless, not huge. The builders have been storing and preparing materials etc. in the hallway all this week, so have been spending loads of time out there. Plus popping outdoors to their van, or for a smoke, lots too, so one or two are frequently going up and down the only, narrow, staircase. They're not socially distancing, not wearing face coverings.
I'm moderate risk for this virus, am still socially distancing, still mostly at home, only met a couple of friends, outdoors at a distance.
These builders are working in an enclosed indoors communal space, sometimes chatting together quite loudly, for chunks of time each day, no face coverings. The closest one was just a metre or so from my door by the time I got to the top of the stairs today. There was little room for them to move back, he did a bit. I'd seen 2 of them go into the block chatting together, as I came along the street and so would have waited longer in the street before going in, but was desperate to use the toilet, and they may have still been in a communal area later on anyway.
I'd been concerned this might happen before I left, but had to go out. (I didn't leave the flat during the daytime on the other days this week for my usual walk because they were there, worried this might happen)
Anyway, now I'm worried on the offchance I could have picked up the virus if one of them happens to have it - hopefully not. I had to walk up the stairs about a minute after them, was at my front door for less than a minute - unlocking it. Just before that, I asked quickly from a longer distance (I was still on the staircase) how much longer they'll be working on the flat for (next week at least).
The neighbour who's having the work done has been away since just before it began so I can't speak to them about it ...
I'm feeling a bit stressed about it now. I'm worried about the same thing happening again next week; the neighbour who's having the work done has been away since the day before the building work began, so I haven't been able to speak to them; I'm unsure if I have the right to ask them myself to move or work differently? (If I do, I'd probably find it hard to be assertive enough to do that, to be honest) and, right now, am feeling annoyed/frustrated about the whole thing. Surely they could at least store the materials inside the flat and work on them there?
I'm wondering if the flat owner considered any of this or the rest of us when they organised this (they didn't let me know the work would be happening). Aren't the builders their responsibility while they're working here? (genuine question.)
And I'm feeling annoyed/frustrated that those of us who want, or need, to socially distance fully, aren't being given the option, just as in loads of other situations right now (at least one neighbour here in the other flats is in the shielding group; I feel particularly concerned for them as their partner needs to leave their flat during the daytime, when these builders have been/will be around on some days too).
I'm guessing some of you won't relate but perhaps some of you can