FFS just because you CAN go to 'The Range' doesn't mean you should

[Torri67]

Nor any of the other shops unfairly dodging the lockdown closure by claiming they are essential (someone on another thread's, local shoe shop, local branch of Next) etc.

It's bloody ridiculous. The more we are out and about, the more this virus has a chance to keep spreading. Don't click and collect from your local business, place orders online from them or phone up and arrange delivery.

Just stop f**king going out. If you don't HAVE to go out for work, essential shopping - ie food or medicine, just stay at home.

If you don't, don't moan when bloody Boris is on our screens on 2nd December saying the lockdown is extended.

@RuleOfCat

Here in Germany we also went into a 'lockdown light' for the month - restaurants, museums, nail bars, gyms all closed. The difference is that shops are allowed to stay open, obviously with masks and limits on the numbers of customers in any shop. We've been like this since shops reopened in May and it works fine - no evidence that it passes on Covid at all. Masks are also now mandatory on the busiest shopping streets. Normal shopping is absolutely NOT a risk, as long as the necessary precautions are met (and here you're only medically exempt from masks with an official doctor's cert, so compliance is pretty high).

Interesting, it sounds like masks and limiting numbers make a big difference? It is probably schools causing the issues here. And Eat Out to Help Out caused it to rise in August, I'm guessing the best way for hospitality is to be outside, but that's not great in winter. And I feel so sorry for all the businesses that have to shut. I understand why but it's so hard for them.

For any Range hunters, Dunelm Mill is shut...but they do deliver to your car or normal click and collect .

I've mainly been doing outside activities all year anyway, even when inside was allowed, but I'm doing a little bit more than during last lockdown when I didn't get takeaway coffee and the playgrounds were shut for the kids as it isn't sustainable.

If they get test and trace working properly, and start some mass testing programmes like the one for Liverpool, they can identify any clusters before they get going and get a grip on transmission.

The Range is staying open? Excellent. I was thinking about some craft paint so I might pop in tomorrow. For a browse. Just for the fun of it.

[quote LizzieAnt]@IcedPurple
The more social interaction there is the more the virus spreads. Surely we all know that by now.[/quote]
So why aren't schools shut then?

Obviously, any time that people are together in an enclosed space, the risk of transmitting the virus increases. However, shops have taken a lot of precations: enforcing mask wearing, increased hygiene, limited numbers. And most people don't have 'social interactions' in shops and spend a short time there. There have, to the best of my knowledge - and clearly yours too, given your failure to supply evidence - been few if any outbreaks linked to 'non-essential' shops in Britain. Supemarkets have been open the whole time and I'm not aware of increased infection rates among Tesco staff.

At any rate, if a shop is open, people are 'allowed' to shop there, and they will. You yourself may lock yourself up as long as you wish.

"I think, unfortunately, they do drive infection to some extent. That's surely the whole point of closing some of them temporarily."

It's mainly because people may treat them as social occasions and a way of meeting up with their friends.

Haha saw this when I just got back from The Range. Also, yeah let's all use the delivery slots on our food shopping, so people like me with no transportation have to lug a weekly food shop and a baby back, or spend a fiver a day on the bus for a small shop each time. Nice one.

Outstanding not only has the OP done damage to her rant be being insufferable (I mean honestly the more people are overbearing controlling twits about things the less people will buy into the message) but she / he has increased the numbers going to the range by letting several people who did not know they were open that they can.

that's cheered me up a lot. DP is currently quite literally at this moment in a hospital in a well known extremely high risk area teaching and his learners are crystal clear about the fact that the closing of the shops was not exactly the forefront of the issue. These are high level clinical leads.

Now in fact we do reduce any visits outside , mainly because if DP job when he is home he wouldn't want to risk anyone else. Just in case.

However seriously op ,this banging of the drum is ridiculous. You do not get to police other peoples activities. Quite frankly the fact you have depression and anxiety lends no additional weight to your argument.

Just leave people the hell alone. If they break the rules they risk a fine and God knows what else, dont be so unutterably arrogant to tell them they shouldn't do anything this is within the rules.

Why on earth do you think you have any more valid right than another person to tell people what to do?

And don't get me started on people who have changed their profile pics on SM to photos of their smug mugs wearing masks!

Maybe it's not to be smug, but it's a way of feeling comfortable with having your mush up on your profile (hate having my photo taken lol) whilst still having half of it hidden away?
I mean, I'm usually a random cartoon character or picture of the beach

Here we go again.

I think, unfortunately, they do drive infection to some extent. That's surely the whole point of closing some of them temporarily.

Look at the sage page I linked to earlier. The effect on R is very minimal.

The worst bit about lockdown and government rules, are all the extra ones that people make up to make themselves feel virtuous.

@Completmentfille

Whilst this is undoubtedly true, do you understand why the countries who have managed this best have been able to? I don’t believe for a second that anyone on here would accept a system like theirs. Christ, we don’t want to be told not to go and do certain things for a few weeks.

I think you're utterly wrong. Most people would be completely prepared to accept it simply because it would mean you could lead an almost normal life. You could see family. You could work. You could visit shops and restaurants.

Stop making excuses as to why it wouldn't work here. It would.

Fair enough, you’re welcome to your opinion.

In your view then, everyone would be entirely happy to have ALL their information available to the government. Your phone registered tracked centrally and every single thing you do that can be tracked, traced and recorded and available for ‘approved agencies’ to use as they see fit. Zero opportunity to challenge anything.

Yep....can see that flying in the UK.

You might want to ask yourself why NO other countries aside from those that utterly control their population have got a worthwhile or working track and trace too.

@Frostedlantern

The worst bit about lockdown and government rules, are all the extra ones that people make up to make themselves feel virtuous.

Omg yes.

The more HARD and DIFFICULT your lockdown is, the better you are personally at fighting the virus. Just no.

Last week I went to a non essential shop that now has to close. Everyone in there was being careful. Most people were shopping in their own and all were following the arrows, socially distancing etc. I felt safe. Yesterday I had to go to a pharmacy. Lots of people in pairs or more standing around chatting with their masks around their chins, browsing and touching everything, ignoring the arrows etc. I didn't feel safe in there but that will be staying fully open.

I'm off to the fishmonger because I fancy mussels, and I'd rather buy them locally and keep the money here than send it to the supermarket! Keeping the fisherman in work, as well as the retail staff. The restaurants are hardly going to buy them for the next four weeks.

Supply chains set up in the last lockdown will be reactivated very fast.

Return of the COVID Prefects - complete with obligatory 'FFS' in the strapline - exactly what everyone needs!

(Strikes up with the 'Hallelujah Chorus') ...

@IcedPurple

I think people are just looking for reasons to go out every day using the ‘it’s essential’ thing. I do understand why, it’s not easy staying in, it’s not good for your mental health but you can exercise, walk, run, cycle etc..

FFS not 'go for a walk' again! It's got a bit boring after nearly 8 months.

It's only a few weeks.

People can go out but everyone needs to keep their distance from others (as much as possible) before the virus gets out of hand again.

being indoors in public places needs to be kept to a minimum too as it's airborne.

@jomaIone

No one is catching Covid on a quick trip to the range.

How do you know? If it can’t be caught in shops then why would they close them?

I agree with the OP. The more we limit contact the better. Deaths are rising, one was a teenager in yesterday’s count. Surely everyone would want to protect themselves and families and wider society. No one knows how their body will react to it in advance.

@IcedPurple
Schools aren't shut as they're essential, as you know.
Studies in the States have found that supermarket workers are indeed at higher risk of contracting Covid. In a customer facing role their risk was found to be five times higher than in a non-customer facing role. Many were asymptomatic so thought to be drivers of infection.

@Janaih

You should pop down there OP, pick up a box of grips.

This definitely

People can go out but everyone needs to keep their distance from others (as much as possible) before the virus gets out of hand again.

People can do what they want within guidelines which are set by the govt, not by randoms on MN.

Oh, give over, OP.

I went to the range Saturday, bought Christmas stuff.

I am not convinced we will have much more freedom after 4 weeks.. So yes I am preparing..

I have also ordered stuff online as I know I will be in so will be free to go out back to the gym once allowed.

I totally agree with you but sadly the attitude of so many of the UK, as seen here, means that lockdown will extend much further.
I'm currently living in Australia but I won't be able to see my family in the UK for a long time because people won't get their bloody act together! We did it for 16 weeks and it wasn't that bad. Just get on with it!

I agree 100%. It’s ludicrous. I’ve been seeing so many “celebs” broadcasting their clothes shopping trips etc. They’re not “supporting local” and most local shops are now prepared for online sales.