Should I risk Christmas shopping? Not been shopping since March!

[Beebityboo]

There are a few things my DC's have asked for for Christmas that will be difficult to get online, and may require picking up from a physical shop. I'm disabled (though wasn't shielded and according to my Dr's my disability isn't a risk factor, but I also have a BMI of 36) and have managed to avoid needing to go to a physical shop since March.
Would you risk Christmas shopping right now? Particularly because I don't drive, so would need to either get a bus or a taxi there and back. But I also want to ensure my DC's have the few things they have asked for and have a really nice Christmas because they have had a really terrible year. I just don't want catch Covid in the process!
Guidance/thoughts appreciated!

My BMI is 38 and I've never been told not to go about my life as usual (adhering to the general guidelines obv). I've also got a disability that effects my mobility but again I've not been advised to do another particular. I've been going to the shops when needed.

If you want to go then I'd say just go, but if it makes you very uncomfortable or you'd really worry then maybe see if a friend or neighbour could get the bits you're after for them.

I've been officially shielding since, occasionally I go to the shops now, I tend to get in and out pretty quick and try to keep away from people, wouldn't get on a bus though, too much close contact for too long, for my liking.

For your own sake I'd strongly advise you to go to the shops. It's not normal or healthy to avoid engaging in life to the extent that you have for such a long time - you will need to get out into the world at some point and now is as good a time as any to do it. The chances that you will catch covid are not zero but they are so close to zero that worrying about it is pointless. At this point the bigger threat to you is the fact that you've shut yourself away for the best part of a year.

Click and collect or ebay?
Ive luckily managed to get everything online.
But have had to go for MOT and dp is going to the dentist.

*since March

With 1%+ people with covid.
And the fact when shops and pubs were closed rates did go down does show people are getting it there

I think it depends on your area. I've only really been shopping for essentials since March but decided yesterday I really needed to get bits and pieces and cards. ALDI and LIDL have been heaving lately so I was dreading it but the town was absolutely dead, parking was easy and the whole experience was absolutely fine.

I agree with the pp, when you haven't done it for a long time, it mentally becomes a bigger issue than it is in reality. Just wear a mask, SD and use loads of sanitiser.

Yes in your shoes I'd go to the couple of shops you need to. The majority of shoppers are masked up (don't forget yours)! Take hand sanitiser and go at a quieter time. Early morning in the week just as shops open is quietest. However, balance the timing with when buses are less busy (not rush hour).

Hopefully you're getting out for fresh air and socialising outside. It must be tough to have been isolating for so long.
Hope you and your dc have a good Christmas

BMI of 40, never told to shield. My only other long term conditions are an underactive thyroid and some OA in my knees, not severe enough to affect my mobility significantly. So nothing else to warrant shielding or being overcautious.

While I've taken need of 'hands, face, space etc I've not been overly anxious, and worked through the pandemic as a nurse and have been to the shops as normal, using guidelines obviously.

Not meaning to drip feed but yes, Covid has definitely resulted in my having developed moderate agoraphobia which I had suffered with mildly and intermittently before, so I probably am making more of it in my head than it should be. My head says, go to the shops equals Covid equals certain death. I'm so cross with myself that I can't get a hold on it.
I wouldn't go but my DD has asked for some obscure Japanese comic book that I can't find online but a shop in the city has one. She doesn't ask for anything for herself so I want to make sure she has at least got this one thing she really wants and generally there are just smaller things I could pick up to make it special for them.

Would a taxi be safer? I've decided if I go it will be first thing in the morning when hopefully the crowds won't be as big.
I just feel so scared about it! I haven't been more than a mile from my home since March and even that it just walks in the park.

Last week I would have said you should go.

This week DH tested positive along with 17 out of his 20 colleagues.

They work in a shop. Shop has taken every single precaution that you can think of some of which are at the cutting edge of Covid secure practices, and allows very few customers in at once on an appointment only basis.

So many people seem determined to live life as normal. I wonder if that has any connection to the tens of thousands of people who have died, or been made severely ill here, since March?

OP just think how many people will feel the need to pop into shops for 'things' in the next few days. I'm certain your children prefer you, at your normal level of health, to anything they could name.

A taxi wouldn't be safer because the risk is so incredibly small that measuring which is safer doesn't make sense. Essentially both bus and taxi are the same - almost no risk at all.

There are lots of people in your position - unnecessarily scared by a government (and health professionals) who thought throwing some people under the bus by destroying their mental health was worth it in order to make people comply.

If you can manage to go out, it would be great. But agoraphobia is very very tough to deal with so don't be too hard on yourself if you find it hard. Would it be better to start small and go to a local shop to buy something?

Dc1 works in a shop in an out of town outdoor shopping centre they were heaving when lock down ended (managers said busier than normal) but this week its gone really quiet it might be a good time to go.

So sorry that you're struggling with agoraphobia. That must be difficult. Did you have any coping techniques when you had it before? I'm sure you're not alone in struggling with anxiety and mild agoraphobia during the pandemic.

If you haven't been out much before now then maybe start small? A short trip to a local shop or something? Like a dry run?
I hope you can rationalise some of your anxiety and get to the shops briefly, and try to enjoy being out. Good luck

Yes I would go (i have diabetes and a high BMI), just wear a mask and gel hands etc. It might do you the world of good. Go at a time that isn’t busy and if you take the bus you probably won’t have to sit near anyone.

Merry Christmas 😀

I've been happily out and about since the summer, but if you haven't set foot in a shop since March now will feel like a huge step because the shops are busyish. If you can go early (9ish) on a weekday it'll be much quieter IME. Also lots of places do click and collect.

It's so hard isn't it, because everyone has a different approach to risk. I'm generally an extremely risk averse person and it's so tiring at the moment.
Thank you all, I'm going to give it some more thought!

Have you at least been getting out of the house for exercise?

@Beebityboo can we help you find the comic at all?

I have done everything online and if going to shops gone later in the day. Mostly been supermarkets not gone to the local bigger town centre since Feb (didn't need to then lockdown struck).

Make sure you try and get out for fresh air at least once a day, it really helps.

Thanks for the offer Kaz but I have looked, it's not just the comic but one with a specific artists cover (DD is very particular about her Japanese comics . It's in stock, just need to go in and get it.

Yes I have been getting out for walks, not as often as I should but we're lucky to live rurally so I do go outside.

It's in stock, just need to go in and get it.

Would they really not post it to you, if you phoned and explained? Or you could ask a cab driver to collect it for you? Or in fact anyone you know who feels less at risk than you do. Though I guess there are other things you want, as well?

I just don't feel that leaving the house has to mean going shopping, especially now.

Or you could ask a cab driver to collect it for you? Or in fact anyone you know who feels less at risk than you do

I don't know what the set up is in other cities but doesn't Uber or TaskRabbit have ways of organising this?

I have no connection with them, directly or indirectly:

www.taskrabbit.co.uk/services/shopping-delivery

Obviously I don’t know where you are. But if you go first thing on a weekday it should be fine. I drove through my town centre this morning (9am) and it was so quiet along with the roads! Only you’ll know whether your public transport will be quiet but with schools finishing and people finishing work, they should be quieter than last week.

Wow, EmbarrassingAdmissions - I had no idea such a service existed! Do lots of people use them? Are they properly reliable and trustworthy? (Guess there's not reason why they should be less honest than other couriers, etc?)