Social distancing and queueing in shops

[Blossomplease6]

When will it end? June? I have a child with SEN and all the queueing to get in everywhere and dancing around people In shops and staying behind lines is making it impossible to take him out.

OP, I doubt if queueing and social distancing will end completely from 21st June. Even if not insisted upon, I think some shops will continue with it. One way within shops may continue as well, and I think face coverings is possible.

That's my guess not government decision.

I can’t go during the week because of work. Single parent so evenings aren’t an option. I mostly shop online but do need to go to shops sometimes

Well to be fair if the only time you can go is a Saturday it would be busy whatever. The only difference would be instead of/as well as queuing to go in, you'd be queuing to pay.

What about Sundays - they are quieter.

And why can't you go with the kids after work? Seriously, 5pm onwards is really quiet.

There are still queues at the village shops but rarely at our main supermarket now.

@poppycat10 after work is a no go becuase of the routine with my ds.
I don’t mind it being busy inside, or the normal queuing to pay, we manage that and it’s expected. What he can’t deal with is approaching a shop and seeing a queue round the building to get in. It moves quickly but he doesn’t get that.

In the evening I tend to go to our small local tesco, but that is really bisy from 5pm onwards with queues outside. It’s ok during the day... but I’m at work.

@Blossomplease6 please just go to front of the queue and ask. Would any retail worker say no given what we’ve seen throughout this shitshow??

@Blossomplease6

Common sense has all but disappeared. As has awareness of Risk.

Covid isn’t something you can self risk assess for as the actions taken by an individual can have consequences for others.

Supermarket workers and essential shops have been invaluable during this pandemic, they deserve to be as safe as possible.

Unlocking too fast because some people have had enough would be disastrous. Last summer looked good but then look what happened...

I work at a secondary school so don’t really feel retail workers are any less safe. Some people would cling to this forever and it has really brought out a child hating element in some people. I was in a supermarket recently and there was an unpleasant woman with her friend screaming about people who were mask exempt but she was wearing hers on her chin, imbecilic! It’s been the perfect excuse for horrible people to become more horrible but pat themselves on the back for a job well done at the same time.

@Fembot123

I work at a secondary school so don’t really feel retail workers are any less safe. Some people would cling to this forever and it has really brought out a child hating element in some people. I was in a supermarket recently and there was an unpleasant woman with her friend screaming about people who were mask exempt but she was wearing hers on her chin, imbecilic! It’s been the perfect excuse for horrible people to become more horrible but pat themselves on the back for a job well done at the same time.

I can't agree more with this.

@poppycat10

work in an essential shop and although we can take precautions, it is not full proof due to cash handling

has there been a single documented case of anyone catching covid from handling cash?

I don't think there has.

However, I fundamentally disagree with the OP that there is "endless queuing" everywhere. I am not a queuer - if there is a queue I walk past and go back another time (except for the post office, you just can't "nip" to the post office - along with pharmacies, they are the last bastion of Stalinism). I go into town when I think it will be less busy - any afternoon is ok and although I don't often go at lunchtime, the last couple of times have been fine, I've been able to go straight into the shop. As I said other than Waitrose on Saturdays there are no queues.

There was a queue outside my local bike shop the other day (I say "queue" - one person waiting outside) but you would have had to have waited to be served anyway.

But it's hard to come back with children. When it's already taken ages to get them ready and to leave the house, nipping out later is not an option.

I have no idea why so many ppl are so keen for things to return to normal,
People getting to close, pushing and shoving, barging in to shops all at once, its horrible.
The social distancing is a far better strategy for everything.

Definitely more patience is needed, surely queuing and fewer people in the shop is a good thing

I have no idea why so many ppl are so keen for things to return to normal, People getting too close, pushing and shoving, barging in to shops all at once, its horrible. The social distancing is a far better strategy for everything

Yes, agree. And for many non NT children and adults the way it was is far worse than with social distancing where they don't have unwanted touching.

@IloveJKRowling

I have no idea why so many ppl are so keen for things to return to normal, People getting too close, pushing and shoving, barging in to shops all at once, its horrible. The social distancing is a far better strategy for everything

Yes, agree. And for many non NT children and adults the way it was is far worse than with social distancing where they don't have unwanted touching.

Literally no one has EVER touched me in a supermarket, wtf 😂😂

There is always unwanted touching, whenever you go, people get to close, does nobody respect personal space

Literally no one has EVER touched me in a supermarket, wtf

Weirdly a shop assistant touched me on the arm in Tesco the other day at the end of our conversation about the item I was looking for.

I'm not bothered but I did think that it could have sent into into a total spin.

@Jellybaby4

There is always unwanted touching, whenever you go, people get to close, does nobody respect personal space

Really, not in my experience at all but I can only assume I look intimidating 😂

As I said on another thread. I’ve never called 999 as much as I have this past year, or assisted with first aid.

Theft has been rife....aggravated too
Abuse has been at an all time high. To the point of police being called
And panic and anxiety attacks... customers and staff... requiring ambulance in some cases

Also, as a line manager, we have all taken advice how to support colleagues mental health. Have had many ‘sit down one to ones’ with colleagues all affected in one way or another

Thank god for the Retail Trust as I have had many many interactions with them

Any retail staff out there needing support, I can’t recommend them highly enough

www.retailtrust.org.uk/

Just in case

@milkysmum

Agree this needs to stop. Stood outside in the snow with my children like we are in some crazy dystopian film, queuing for half an hour just to post a parcel at the post office this morning. It's beyond ridiculous. I'm a nurse, and I'm done with these restrictions now honestly- we all need our lives back.

Well said and totally agree I’ve only queued once. M and s food shop on,y, in the sunshine for less than two minutes Certainly wouldn’t do it for more than that in the cold

I daresay my friends who perished from Covid would like their lives back too.

It's only a few months for goodness sake. Unless you want another lockdown?

Little kids in store has been heartbreaking. I get no smiles and can’t really do much interacting with them.

But please.... don’t stick them in trolleys not meant for them to keep them ‘out of the way’ or contained. We’ve had accidents as they try to climb out. I’ve touched a few customers this year but only whilst giving first aid! I’d rather kids skip about than be falling out of trolleys

@Blossomplease6 - or people with common sense & people without

@MrsHastingslikethebattle - are you an epidemiologist?

or people with common sense & people without

Yes that too