Covid measures for retail

[LynxGiftsetAndSocks]

Heard today we need to prepare for directional signage and arrows back in store

Limiting customers in store ....so possibly queuing again

But most worrying was an escalation plan to prepare for staff shortages meaning store/branch closures due to staff isolating/positive for covid

We won't be able to run the store safely so we will be forced to close. Kind of want to say get what you need now but don't want to induce panic buying. Just a little heads up.

God knows if we will be paid or not!

This is happening where I live. Our area is experiencing an Omicron surge and many of our stores and services are closed simply because they can't be staffed. At the moment, the infections are disproportionately affecting younger people, so it's those stores and services that they would normally staff that are being shut. (Plus pubs, nightclubs and restaurants.)

Yes we employ a lot of young people too

There's a whole process for us to follow, including working in other branches to cover, but I'm not really sure I want to do that. Spreading us around will surely spread the virus too

Customers will be livid when they turn up to find us closed

We won't be able to run the store safely so we will be forced to close

Do you work at a supermarket?

@SickAndTiredAgain

We won't be able to run the store safely so we will be forced to close

Do you work at a supermarket?

Non food retail but we're an 'essential retailer' first time round so open all the way through

Businesses also trade with us, so no supplies means they can't work either

Food retail must be struggling too. Pcr tests taking an age to come back it seems

Are you a shop like Screwfix OP, we used them a lot in lockdown.

The redistribution of staffing is why many of the little Tesco’s, M&S and Sainsbury’s had to close during the first lockdown, partly because of sickness but also because of shielding.

My local Sainsbury’s only just removed all of the plastic screens by the self checkouts about two months ago. I’ll be pleased to see them return because they get so busy that social distancing is impossible.

Yes the screens will reappear

I don't remember any food stores locally closing before. Feels a bit more 'fragile' at work this time round. And a lot more stretched.

This is why we will eventually have to stop with the isolation rules.

Thousands of people with little or no symptoms sitting around at home while everything shuts down around us.

If this new variant proves to be milder and the boosters are doing their jobs at keeping hospitalisations low (as they currently are in Scotland, don't know about English numbers) then hoepfully the government will end or reduce self isolation.

It is the only way forward really.

Yes. I agree

But retail staff have no choice.... they have to interact with every unvaccinated and unmasked customer, so I guess more likely to get covid this way

@LadyCleathStuart

This is why we will eventually have to stop with the isolation rules.

Thousands of people with little or no symptoms sitting around at home while everything shuts down around us.

If this new variant proves to be milder and the boosters are doing their jobs at keeping hospitalisations low (as they currently are in Scotland, don't know about English numbers) then hoepfully the government will end or reduce self isolation.

It is the only way forward really.

But you isolate to stop the spread that’s the problem. If no one isolated we’d be in an even worse mess.

But you isolate to stop the spread that’s the problem. If no one isolated we’d be in an even worse mess.

Yes for now but you cannot seriously suggest that this go on forever. At some point it will have to stop.

@LadyCleathStuart

But you isolate to stop the spread that’s the problem. If no one isolated we’d be in an even worse mess.

Yes for now but you cannot seriously suggest that this go on forever. At some point it will have to stop.

Stop because it’s safe to or simply because we’ve had enough?

Untamed Covid would be a disaster, this is why the government are in the position the are now. They have messed up their messaging up by ignoring their own rules and they have over simplified the expectations of life with Covid to the public- but now as we face Omicron they can not risk letting this get out of hand so they have to U turn.

Perhaps this is the chance to show the nation what living with Covid unmitigated looks like, the impact on the NHS and our safety net will be devastating, but if that’s the only way for people to realise the gravity of the situation then maybe we need to peek behind that curtain.

Well what is 'safe'? No covid thats never going to happen. So when? Do we just have things closing down every winter because the staff essentially have a cold.

Vaccines have broken the link between covid and death, or at least they had, if it proves true for Omicron also then yes we should stop asap.

I was surprised how many of my staff live with vulnerable people and are vulnerable themselves

We have had honest conversations with everyone and have made as many adjustments as possible

Truth is, many people with chronic illness work in retail. I never realised. Many are absolutely terrified of picking up covid and taking it home. These people have no choice but to serve the covid deniers everyday.

I really feel for them

@LadyCleathStuart

Well what is 'safe'? No covid thats never going to happen. So when? Do we just have things closing down every winter because the staff essentially have a cold.

Vaccines have broken the link between covid and death, or at least they had, if it proves true for Omicron also then yes we should stop asap.

You’re thinking about this in simplistic terms. Covid doesn’t work that way and neither does the country, nor the world for that matter.

The vaccines have reduced deaths which is a good thing but it’s also still highly transmissible and will leave some people with long Covid in much higher numbers than before.

The vaccines are not 100% effective and still we don’t know how long protection from boosters will last or even if it lasts the same duration for everyone so the risk of people getting sick from waned immunity is significant.

You think it’s just a cold because you haven’t been severely impacted by it (if you had you wouldn’t be saying it’s a cold) therefore your skewed experience is fortunate for you but for lots of us isn’t the case and is why certain mitigations will be needed every time the numbers go up.

mitigations will be needed every time the numbers go up.

Forever? You do realise that won't happen right? This is not the first pandemic nor will it be the last.

And the fact is that Covid is mild for the vast majority of people, it isn't skewed perspective.