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Original poster

Stupid delivery drivers in London with no face coverings!

48 replies

Mabe1991 · 09/01/2021 12:03

Just need a rant.

Me my boyfriend and 10 week old daughter caught covid recently. We have been so careful, shielded, never gone out apart from the supermarket this whole year, if we left the flat ALWAYS had a mask on. My boyfriend has multiple sclerosis and is on immunosuppressents so had been super careful. Washed and bleached every peice of shopping or delivery that come through the door. If anything have been too careful. Anyway we ended up somehow catching it over xmas (I know it's super spreadable this virus but have no clue how we got it)

Anyway, we live in a block of 60 flats. There are a some very elderly here too. EVERY SINGLE DAY 99% of the time every single delivery driver plus post man NEVER wear masks. Walking through our communal corridors with no ventilation. It's starting to really fcling pss me off. In the past 3 days we have had 3 deliverys. 2 DPD one DHL and they knock on the door each time with no mask, no standing back or distancing to which I instantly close it and they are telling me they need my name. I get they need it but they can wear a mask or fck off! We live in London we moved here a year before the pandemic as it was suitable for work and our borough has been the worst in London for about 6 months. Its fcking driving me insane how ignorant people are and dont seem to care about this virus or protecting other people.

There are quite a few elderly in this building too. It makes me paranoid I literally feel sick if I have to go out with baby etc. I have to put a blanket over her head while we walk out the flats. I see it all day every day them coming in and out and honest to god never wearing masks !

Why are people so selfish Angry just needed a rant. I get some people think this virus is over the top in there opinion but for some its not and can be so serious ! The lack of respect is really getting to me. I done everything in my power to protect our baby and us and it didnt work probably due to people being selfish and doing what they want.

Anyone else have this issue? Angry

OP posts:
TheGreatWave · 09/01/2021 12:21

Most of my delivery drivers don't wear a mask. They knock, I open the door and stand back, they take the photo and off they go.

Is there any guidelines about wearing masks in communal areas?

Original poster
Mabe1991 · 09/01/2021 12:34

@TheGreatWave that's what I am confused about I have read conflicting things. I am sure in communal areas its mandatory for them to wear masks. Its ridiculous if it's not especially round here with rates so high! If I was a delivery driver I certainly would be. Makes me so angry that they can do this. I completely understand delivering outside without a mask but not in communal corridors with zero ventilation...

OP posts:
MerciSeat · 09/01/2021 12:38

I'm fairly sure there's no requirement for them to wear masks and even if there were, they may be exempt.

I live in a block of flats, am immunocompromised and maskless delivery people have never worried me - they don't come close enough to me or spend enough time in the building to pose a threat, surely?

Original poster
Mabe1991 · 09/01/2021 12:41

@MerciSeat our delivery drivers will stand right outside our door. We have very small corridors too so not really room for them to 'stand back'.

They have said all along a non ventilated room coronavirus will last for 2-3 hours in the air for other people to breathe in. This is why schools now have protocols to keep the windows open even during winter as its known it stays in the air much longer otherwise

OP posts:
Original poster
Mabe1991 · 09/01/2021 12:43

So if they are walking through 3 corridors and up 3 sets of stairs with no mask and are carrying the virus anyone that comes through them corridors or stairwells after have a chance of catching it. @MerciSeat

OP posts:
luckylavender · 09/01/2021 12:47

@TheGreatWave - surely if they're indoors they should wear a mask. That's absolutely how I would interpret guidance. Indoor spaces.

FACE - Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.

RedMarauder · 09/01/2021 12:51

OP do you have signs on your building entrances saying "wear a mask"? If not then the drivers probably don't realise/remember there is no ventilation in your corridors and they are narrow.

luckylavender · 09/01/2021 12:54

It's still indoors. They shouldn't need to be told.

DianaT1969 · 09/01/2021 13:05

OP, you say you have all caught it and recovered. Did you all have mild symptoms? Don't you feel relief that you are all likely to have antibodies now? I know there's no guarantee, and the length of time is unknown, but I'm hearing the anxiety in your OP and wondering why. Did you spend time with someone before or during Christmas? I mean more than the 2 mins it takes to receive a delivery, or the 2 minutes it takes to walk through communal areas?

10kaDay · 09/01/2021 13:13

@Mabe1991: sorry to hear that. I have now hung a mask on my door for when I open it/to exit my building ☹️

It’s a pain but until we have proper info re new strain & how it spreads I think it’s a sensible precaution

Unsure33 · 09/01/2021 13:16

@DianaT1969

I think the poster is concerned for the elderly in the flats as well

Could you contact the flat management and ask them to put signs up . I agree that the guidance in closed corridors should be to wear masks .

Original poster
Mabe1991 · 09/01/2021 13:26

@luckylavender thanks I agree should be done out of respect for others.

@DianaT1969 no. My partner went on to develop a secondary infection which has left him completely bed bound and unable to walk very far. My 10 week old daughter was unable to breathe through her nose or open her eyes and I had to hold her upright for 4 days straight while she slept so she was positioned upright as she was gasping for air if laid back. Had the paramedics round having to check on her. So no. This is what gets me how people can be so ignorant just because they think it's not bad for them or someone they know.... so even if I was a 'mild' case what would give me the right to put others at risk who wont catch it mildly because of this?

There are extremely vunerable people in this building and it should be mandatory for face coverings how can people even argue that? We have been told all along even someone breathing that has the virus expels it into the air without being outside there is a big chance of catching it without ventilation. If that was the case they wouldnt make people wear masks in shops or other indoor spaces where people spend '2 minutes'?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mabe1991 · 09/01/2021 13:27

@Unsure33 yeah thanks will have to contact them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mabe1991 · 09/01/2021 13:30

And no we have stayed away from being with anyone. Our family havent even held baby or been round to ours etc or us round to theres. When she was born in October they met us in the grounds of our flat with face coverings and didnt hold her or come near her... all of that to catch it anyway! I'm sure others have been in the same boat it's just frustrating

OP posts:
Orf1abc · 09/01/2021 13:34

Why don't you go down to the entrance to collect deliveries? I live opposite a block and that's what the residents there do.

nutellalove · 09/01/2021 13:45

The same thing happened to me this morn. No mask, I asked him to stand back, he got huffy. I'm in London in one of the worst affected boroughs.

Calmandmeasured1 · 09/01/2021 13:51

I think Amazon delivery drivers have been brilliant (putting parcels by door, going 20' to bottom of garden, giving thumbs up when we take it in).

DHL not so good as they had to hand over a work laptop yesterday and were very close. They only stepped back a couple of feet to take photo with the door open. I tried to protect myself as much as possible behind the porch door.

The Royal Mail postmen have been the worst offenders, one of which is deaf so wanting to get close to lip-read, but forgetting about social-distancing.

msbevvy · 09/01/2021 13:53

This worries me too. DH and I are both Extremely vulnerable and have shielded since March. The other day the postman knocked and instead of stepping back when I opened the door he stepped forward and his unmasked face was about a foot away from mine in a small communal hallway. We live in a part of London with one of the highest rates of infection.

msbevvy · 09/01/2021 13:59

@Orf1abc

Why don't you go down to the entrance to collect deliveries? I live opposite a block and that's what the residents there do.
If we were to do that in our building we would be putting ourselves at much greater risk. We would be using a lift that could have just been occupied by someone with the virus. It would be rare for us to go down to the entrance without encountering other residents or delivery people a lot of whom won't be wearing a mask.
luckylavender · 09/01/2021 14:03

@Orf1abc - why can't everyone follow the rules & respect people?

yeOldeTrout · 09/01/2021 14:10

Giving masks way too much credit for being protective -- especially in < 20 second exposure windows.

burnoutbabe · 09/01/2021 14:12

In our block of flats we just don't use stairs /communal parts at the sane time as others, so we don't wear masks when going in/out at all.

I am now wearing masks to open door to Deliveroo etc (who also have masks on)

CharleyBaker · 09/01/2021 14:59

Your mask catches your germs.

Sadly, your mask gives you very little protection.

Wear a visor as well.

MerciSeat · 09/01/2021 15:23

Do you wear a mask when answering the door, OP?

TheVanguardSix · 09/01/2021 15:51

You can put instructions on your Amazon orders and grocery orders to tell delivery drivers to just leave everything on the front doorstep outside your flat. The chances of your neighbours stealing anything are nil, I hope and assume. So just do that. Saves me a lot of anxiety doing this. I also have a note on the door. We're a covid household at present, so I am much more aware of us being spreaders. Still, they should wear masks! But you can't make 'em, unfortunately. People are dumb. My friends all want to stop by and wish us well, standing 2 meters apart. I don't even want to play that game right now. DH is in hospital on a CPAP. It's been worse than awful. I don't think, until they've seen firsthand the fun and games this virus has to offer, people get it... at all. I was on a cardiac ward with covid patients last year (long story which I won't bore you with now). So, I saw how horrible it was last March and I now get to relive its horror by watching my own DH literally and without exaggeration, fight for his life. I had to bring something to the hospital yesterday... to drop with the nurses looking after him in ICU. Fuck it was depressing.

If you're in a block of flats, wear disposable gloves when you're in the common areas (handrails, doorknobs, buzzers, all of that will be touched by infected people). Carry alcohol wipes with you everywhere.