Mask & gloves

As far as face masks are concerned, the answer is simple - in public places, wear a face mask. Wearing a face mask could save a life - maybe your own.

Some say, but it won't protect you from getting the virus - maybe not, but it reduces the risk you can give it to others significantly.

Since, in the UK, we have not done extensive testing and tracking, we cannot be certain that the person who just passed us in the supermarket, or garden centre, or on the bus, train or tube is not asymptomatic, or even in the early stages.

The fools that suggested social distancing is the answer on public transport has clearly either no experience, or knowledge of how trains operate.

In public places, especially where 'social distancing' is much less practical - wearing a mask can save lives. So what's the problem?

I went to Tesco last night at around 8.0pm , I did wear a mask and gloves. The store was virtually empty, they had a system of arrows to follow and whilst I was quite anxious initially, I was reassured and it was lovely to be out selecting my own food.

MayBee70 I agree with your post. after all, a mask is to stop you passing it on so unless we all wear one, not a lot of good. Having said that, I will wear one. not been out yet though.

I’m a scaredy cat and haven’t been in a shop since 18th March. We’ve been very lucky to get an online shop when we’ve needed it and have had milk delivered for some time anyway. I am over 70, don’t have any underlying conditions that I know of, but who knows, so I’m not rushing to go out any time soon.

Since lockdown started I have been using my car every 7-10 days and each time I have taken it at least twice around the block to charge it up. So far it has worked.

I do not see the point of using gloves. A few times when out I have seen people with masks and gloves on- their phone rings, rifle in their pockets for the phone, use a hand to move the mask and after the call place phone back in the pocket. I doubt if the phone is ever cleaned.

After I lock my front door I treat my hands as "dirty" and do not put them to my face until I return home and have washed my hands. After I sanitise my hands in my car, I rub my hands around the small sanitiser bottle and also around the steering wheel.

I have to go to the pharmacy to collect my prescription. I only worry that the people who don’t realise they have the virus are walking about and so many don’t practice social distancing, but as WHO said yesterday this probably won’t go away anytime soon so we will have to manage it. That said I’m happy to carry on working from home and doing click’n’collect.

We go to our M and S foodhall on the retail park every 10 days. We go in the afternoon when it is quieter, and never have to queue for more than 10 minutes. An assistant sanitises the trolley before she gives it to you at the door, and again when you take it back. They only allow 10 people in at a time. As there are about 10 aisles, we usually have each aisle to ourselves as we go round, so we feel as safe as possible in the circumstances. If there is someone else in the aisle we wait at the end till they move on. It works very well. Also the check outs have screens up. We are both over 70 by the way, but can't get a home delivery. We can get most of what we want there. Yesterday I went to the big Boots on the retail park for toiletries and medicines, it was nearly empty. We wouldn't go near a big supermarket, having heard stories of customers not observing the distancing rule.

I think this is the worst time to go out. Everyone will be madly rushing to the supermarket.

I'm looking forward to my delivery tomorrow!

Only ventured to pharmacy. I suffer from asthma so I chose to wear a mask and gloves, plenty of others dressed the same ?

I'm happy to drive for my shopping as I don't want a flat battery when lockdown lifts a little more. I notice that our neighbours are taking their cars round the block once in a while to keep the battery charged and turn the tyres a bit.
Something else to think about!

I am 83, no underlying health issues, but very anxious, thinking I will stay with my online deliveries,

I am just anxious, have my little car, really want to go out, but scared.. what of? breakdown, anything,,,

I do have b/d cover, but anxiety isn`t reasonable is it!

oh dear,, I can`t bear the thought of wearing a mask, claustrophobic? I have some ordinary rubber gloves,, but .. oh dear!

MayBee70 you also open and close the car door. I wonder how long the virus lives on the handles? Just a thought.

I honestly haven't been out in weeks and weeks. Don't intend to unless I have to, until things are really a LOT better.. I've been lucky in getting supermarket deliveries every week and otherwise internet shopping. Feel too worried to go out. If I had to I would wear a mask and gloves.

I'm 67 and have continued to shop at Morrisons. I use an electric wheelchair when I'm out and about and can only get so much shopping at once as I wouldn't be able to carry it. The staff are very good there about queuing to get into the shop and for the tills and only so many people are allowed in the store at one time. I don't wear any protective clothing and it has worked so far.

I haven't been inside a shop since 20th March and wont be going near one for a long time and when i do it will be with mask and gloves.

I've just made a mask today from cotton and an old t-shirt and went out to the post office this afternoon with it in my pocket along with gloves to put on before going in. Needn't have bothered - it was shut ! Who knew they have new opening hours and close at 12.30 every day.

We've had one home grocery delivery and two click and collects but have decided now that we will go to Tescos this week as there are things I forget to get online and the substitutes are not what I would normally buy. I did go a few weeks ago later at night and it was fairly quiet so hopefully it will work again.

If I had the choice, and I could manage to get deliveries, I think I would be in no rush to go into a supermarket yet.

We are supposed to get an increase in the virus as restrictions are lifted. I would perhaps wait until the next plateau.

Meant to add, I’ve got gloves and mask ready for going out,

I’m a bit afraid to go to a supermarket. I have asthma and after being at home all these weeks in a way I’ve got used to it. I’m getting a home delivery from the milkman and also Iceland. Both have been a life saver and completely reliable. I was unable to get A space with any other supermarket. Now, I feel I must support these two going onwards who have saved me through this awful time.

We're both well over 70.
Husband does most of our shopping in either Tesco or Sainsbury because he drives. He wears a facemask and gloves.
I go into one of our 2 local corner shops often, wearing face mask and gloves, for a few bits and pieces. Both restrict entry to 5 people and have strict distancing rules inside. The cashiers are behind screens.

Until everyone wears a mask I'm not setting foot inside a supermarket. No one knows if they're presymptomatic.

I think I have it now.
The first time was the most difficult.

The biggest problem I found was that browsing is difficult. The aisles aren’t wide enough to give 2 metres space between people so the downside is that one holds up the traffic.

Now I go later in the day, they may be out of some items but generally have enough and it’s more relaxed.
I haven’t worn a mask because I really don’t think I’m CV positive but if it makes you feel safer then do so. I put a glove on after I’ve sanitised the trolley. Tescos supply that.
I take the glove off to load the bags into the car, no one else has touched by bags.

I have been getting my shopping delivered being lucky enough to get shopping slots when I needed them so have not gone short of anything.
When I decide to go out again I shall use a mask/gloves after seeing how stupid some people are with their social distancing I am not going to take the chance, on our local facebook page people have been congregating on the promenade far too close together over this past weekend even if using a mask gives any extra safety or not I am not taking the chance.

Notice at local A&E when I was there yesterday told people NOT to rely on using alcohol based anti-vac sanitisers but just to wash hands in soap and hot water regularly.
I do not wash my shopping when I get it indoors, I take off my face mask and gloves as soon as I get back into my car.
Think I am careful, but most definitely not neurotic about this.
When I am out and about locally in park or along Promenade would not dream of putting on face mask, but do not come close to other people.
Do wonder why people are not opening their windows in this sunny weather, do think there are lots of myths and misinformation about this virus.
Do suppose that different parts of the country are different, not sure how happy I would be going to the large Sainsbury's each week if I still lived in my old London house.
But down here in the west country, really enjoy that outing and gives my car a run out.

Just out of interest we all put hand sanitiser on when we get back to the car. But do we then sanitise the hand sanitiser bottle that we've just held with our potentially virus laiden hands? I realised the other day that I wasn't doing so and supposedly the virus lives on plastic longer than other surfaces.