I know I’m being silly

[RollyPollyPudding]

And I know quite a few posters will point that out to me.,but I am not thinking clearly nowadays (unsurprisingly) I need to go to another organisation tomorrow to collect some IT equipment, I will be wearing a mask and will take every precaution. From what I understand I need to go in wait in the reception area, an engineer will bring the equipment down and make sure all the relevant functions are working and hand it to me- the duration would be about 15-20 mins if everything goes as per plan- I understand from my colleagues that this organisation is not enforcing the mask wearing rule therefore most staff don’t
Which means that the engineer is sharing an office with others who are not wearing masks.
I was in the phone to one last week to organise this and I could very clearly hear him speak to another team member and there is no way they were maintaining social distancing if I could hear through the phone

Given this and that my town has gone into Tier 3 from Tier 2 with a rapidly rising case numbers I’m thinking of not going tomorrow. It’s one thing coming back home with IT equipment it’s another if I come back with COVID.

Am I being silly?

Well...lots of people are working full times in offices. I do. People only wear masks in communal areas: in offices at their desks they don't need to.

Just keep your distance, keep your mask on, and clean your hands when you leave. Obviously the virus is about but it's not waiting to attack whenever you enter a building - it took me a while to feel safe when I went back to the office though.

If you can get away with not going and it makes you more comfortable, don’t go. But if you need the equipment to do some essential function of your job I would go.

I haven’t been to my office since March, working from home. But we are being asked to come back from Jan but the rule in my office is that we wear the mask the whole day, cannot take it off unless we are out of the building or in the staff room to have lunch which is limited to 5 at a time.

This might be the reason why I feel uncomfortable about going tomorrow

@930onaTuesdayNight I have my gear, but my laptop is ancient so this is to update it. I can carry on but will have to go at some point...

If there's a door to outside leave it open, and stand close to it for ventilation. You'll be very unlucky to get it from that one point of contract, but of course it is possible.

You can always ask that the person bringing the equipment wears a mask, it wouldn't be unreasonable to email ahead with that request.

@whatswithtodaytoday I have been in this building before, one door to go in no way to stand near a window.

@poachedeggsandmushrooms it’s too late as the appointment is tomorrow- no chance they will pick the email up as it goes to a communal helpdesk email ID

You should remember that tens of thousands of people have worked with the public throughout the entire pandemic and never caught it; shop workers, call centre workers, etc.

I read a study that 15 mins of face to face contact is considered’close contact if less that 2m away and if one person is not wearing a mask. This worries me

I think you need to look at this rationally. The virus isn’t dripping off every surface waiting to pounce in you. If you went into a building in a similar manner, where some people might have a bad cold, you wouldn’t spend your time worrying over whether you might catch it from some equipment you were picking up.

@Dotinthecity it’s not the building or the equipment- I will of course wipe everything down before I use it and wash my hands
It’s the contact with the engineer whivh worries me, I will have to check the equipment and converse with him to ensure the correct software has been loaded- I will be exposing myself is my worry/concern

I live in central London and go to the hospital twice a week, every week since May. I also get weekly tests. I have never had Covid.

Not saying that it's not a risk, but it's highly likely you will be utterly fine. Stop panicking.

@Dotinthecity

I think you need to look at this rationally. The virus isn’t dripping off every surface waiting to pounce in you. If you went into a building in a similar manner, where some people might have a bad cold, you wouldn’t spend your time worrying over whether you might catch it from some equipment you were picking up.

This. Exactly this.

I think your overthinking it. Go along, take precautions and go home.

Your Chances of catching it are very minute.

I've been at work all week and had a plumber in my house for three hours today.

I think you need to get a grip a wee bit (saying this with absolute kindness).

Just stand away from him. Keep your distance and you'll be fine.

Could you ask him to wear a mask? I think that would be reasonable.

I work in IT. If you have an appointment with an engineer tomorrow, emailing the help desk with an urgent request for the engineer to wear a mask should be actioned, they start early. Do you have the name of the help desk manager / senior person who could make sure this is arranged for you that you could cc in?

@JetBlackSteed our IT function has been outsourced so we don’t have the individual contact details but I’ll log on and have look if I can find someone whom I can email

All my correspondence was with the generic help desk

I’m not trying to be precious but this whole Covid virus seems to be like a vulture that’s circling above and it’s causing massive anxieties

Do you have health issues?

Not that I’m aware of but fall wi hung BAME category

You're massively overthinking it. You'll be fine and be able to work easier I'm sure with a better laptop.

Firstly, ask if you can wait outside.
Secondly, double up with a mask and visor if the other person isn’t wearing a mask.

It seems like a vulture circling overhead because you've been holed up at home since March. When you have no choice but to go out to work five days a week, mixing with others, you certainly become more chilled out!

If you've got no way of contacting them before the meeting then there's nothing wrong with asking him to wear a mask when you see him. Take a new disposable one for him if you're worried they're not the norm there.