What do you do to stay safe?

I haven't been in a shop since February. There's no need to risk it when I can have everything delivered.

People can come into the garden, but not the house. I take the dog for a long walk, twice daily - but keep well away from anyone else. I do a thorough hand washing when I get back.

What else can I do? I'm amazed at how many people take risks, but then my daughter's friend is nursing in a Covid ward and living apart from her family - so I hear all the awful news with grisly details!

Exactly the same as Franburn except that I don't food shop. Haven't done that for 20 odd years. OH likes doing it, I don't.
Went to visit one of the daughters in London yesterday. I know she's safe as she hasn't been out for 2 months.
I knew we were safe because we had the results of a covid test on Tuesday.
Life more or less carries on as normal.

Not overly exercised about it, take all the usual precautions like hand washing, wearing a mask in public buildings - also if we find ourselves in an outside but busy street - sanitising shopping (only deliveries or C&C - haven't been in a supermarket since early March).

We don't visit bars or restaurants. However we did form a 'bubble' with our daughter and enjoy hugs with our grandchildren (no kisses).

We always wash our hands as soon as we come in, and change our clothes immediately if we've been anywhere where there's been a lot of people (try to avoid that mostly!).

Overall we're trying not to become too obsessively fearful. We live with risk all our lives - this is just another, albeit frightening, one that we are learning to live as normal a life as possible with.

We thought we'd be brave and go out for lunch this week for the first time this year. Having taken all precautions ourselves and at the establishment, only to have a man at a neighbouring table loudly inform this companion that he thought he had had the virus. He didn't say how recently! I wish we hadn't gone!!

Since March I have been to a friend's garden once recently for coffee.

I go out for food shopping but I have heavy goods such as cat litter delivered via an online shop around 3 weekly.

I used to wipe down everything when it came in the door but no longer. I put food away as normal and then wash my hands. If parcels arrive, to date none has been urgent, I leave in my hall for at least 3 days with any post and then sort it all out.

If I touch my wheelie bins I wash my hands and when I return from shopping ditto. Any time I want fresh air I go to my garden. Walking is out because of mobility problems. I will not go on a bus or a tube and to date, I have not been out for even a cup of coffee in a shop but I have been to my local fish and chip shop x2.

I have only recently gone into Aldi which is nearby so I can see when it is quiet and nip in and out quickly. I have not been to any other shops, but I have been to the hairdresser and this week I went on an almost empty bus to the bank. This all feels very safe but that is as much as I want to do. Local cases have been fairly low, but the virus is still around.
I avoid people when out for walks. I go to my daughter’s house and sit in her garden, I do not go in for any reason, or have a cup of tea there. It is her birthday next week and we may go to a cafe with outdoor seating but that will be a first.

Went for my first restaurant meal earlier this week -taking advantage of the discount scheme. They had no outside space, but all the tables were a good way apart and at no time were we close to other customers. Paper menus, fresh for each customer and then disposed off, all condiments were those little sachets. Very enjoyable - had two of my daughters and three g.children with me. Will be going for another meal in a different restaurant next week after A level result get posted.
I go early in the morning to supermarket and find it has very few people in it - most of their wide aisles I have totally to myself. I have always preferred doing my own shopping, never wanted on-line - and during the severe lock-down months, this gave me a once a week chance to go somewhere different and also give my car a short drive.
It would never occur to me to change my clothes each time I return to my flat - do that normally on a daily basis when I get dressed each morning.
Do not wash or isolate shopping or parcels coming into my home, just wash my hands after dealing with it.
Yes,I know this virus is very infectious, but also know that it has a low morbitity rate - so am probably still more concerned that stroke or cardiac arrest (I am going on for 80 yrs old), is going to be the thing that finally kills me. However, in the meantime, I wish to live as normally as I can, safely - and have time with my children and g.children.

I expect a spike to occur late September/October as children return to school and more people to work. Each of those 'bubbles' will then be inter-mingling at home with those from other bubbles . Fortunately, I am having a visit during September from my son and Dil (both working from their home and with no children), so that will keep me going for that month as I am likely to become slightly more of a recluse for a couple of months then, but do hope to be able to see my family over Christmas and - being largely an optimist), am already planning for (hopefully) a more normal Spring and Summer in 2021.

I am more concerned now than I was in the beginning. Where I live is in a local lockdown because of raising cases again and I am certainly staying at home more than I did during the first lockdown. But this lockdown is harder, partly, I think, because the weather hasn't been as good as during the first, and we have a lot of rain and overcast weather here so it's more depressing. Being able to sit out in the sun made all the difference to me, but being stuck indoors is making everything so much worse.

I always did my own shopping, and shopping for my son during total lockdown, always wore a mask and washed hands and sanitised them. Now I have been to the hairdressers, dentist, hospital and eaten out but sat outside, a few times. I only meet my son in the garden every now and again but I have had to go to my daughter on several occasions to help her. That has now stopped as I have managed to get Social Services to step up and help.
If we have another lockdown, local or national, I will have to do things differently as I have now been diagnosed with lung disease and told I must isolate. However the Dr did say if I was to isolate I could go out each day on my bike for a cycle ride as long as I didn't stop anywhere to talk or eat. She thinks exercise and being outdoors is hugely beneficial.

I went on a diet as soon as lockdown started, started taking daily vitamin D tablets, went outside in the sunshine at every opportunity and did more exercise. Apart from that I'm not doing anything different.

That sounds a healthy routine FrugalPiggy - how has your diet gone? I am sorry to say that I have spent time practising the use of my new convector microwave and made all sorts of different cakes and buns and then have had to eat them!!! Banana Tea bread made today - I purchased extra bananas when I had two primary school aged g.children here last weekend. Of course, they did not eat them as silly Grandma bought them treats of ice cream, etc.

I just wash my hands and look left and right when I cross the roads nothing else or yes a mask on in shops and that’s it

BlueBelle

I just wash my hands and look left and right when I cross the roads nothing else or yes a mask on in shops and that’s it

Exactly, Bluebelle, need to take control of our lives and our own Risk Assessments, but need to continue living and not making ourselves prisoners both in fact and of our own fears!!!!

I am currently working in an emergency control room, approximately one hundred staff ,many of whom are over 50, plus frequent visitors. We are unable to social distance or wear masks, are tested frequently including antibody tests and yet have a very low incidence of COVID, not quite sure what to make of that.
I caught it when I was working on the frontline so dealing with active cases at close quarters all day.

I've slowly relaxed my routine as cases have diminished but obviously won't lower my guard too much. I've had a drink in pubs/cafes sitting outside in this hot spell but can't see myself going inside again. I think most of us are now suffering from the Stockholm syndrome.

Franbern. Thanks for asking. I have managed to lose 10lbs thus far and need to shift about another 10 but it's slow going as I love cooking and eating ☺️. I'm eating lots and lots of fruit such as blueberries for the vitamin C .

Franbern

It appears as if I more pragmatic than most on here. I do wash my hands each time I return home, and before I touch any food items.
Have continued with weekly supermarket shopping throughout, and worn a mask there ( to protect others) for sometime now.
I have continued having lots of time with my nearby daughter and her family, including going there for a meal occasionally. We are not a huggie sort of family, so that has been no problem. As soon as I get there I wash my hands, that is about it
Have had other children and g,.children come to visit me, and did make one trip few weeks ago to suburban part of London to visit a daughter and g.child. In my own car, felt very safe.
Lots of fresh air and Vitamen D are some of my most ardent safeguards. Even when I am indoors I like to have windows open = do try to get out into fresh air most days - did this throughout lockdown time , mainly going to local park.
I do NOT wash shopping when I bring it home, neither do I use bleach very much at home,. Normal cleaning routines - as I have always followed.
I have sat outside and had coffee and cakes - helping local shopkeepers, had days out - all outside. Leading as normal a life as possible.
I am definitely not panicked about this virus - take normal hygiene precautions. My County reported 23 people in hospital with this virus, none of them requiring intensive care. Probably a lot more people of my age hospitilised at present by strokes, cardiac arrests, etc.
Will probably take slightly more care when the weather changes and everyone returns to work in September and October.

Franburn .: I certainly agree with you as I’ve just led a ‘ normal ‘ life throughout lockdown . I’ve gone out walking the dog most days , chatting to all the other dog walkers over the park , been to the shops to get my groceries every week , also as things have eased a bit, I’ve visited my family , met up with friends for coffee and lunch , sat on the seaside prom with take away fish and chips . Also Ive not taken too much notice of the news as it’s been the same depressing story now for months . I’m not panicking about the virus either , life is far too precious and very short , so I do keep my distance , don’t shake hands or hug or kiss , forever using hand sanitiser , keeping some in my car and handbag at all times when out and about . In my area I’ve not heard of anyone who has contacted COVID 19 or have passed away from it , but I do hear of people that are lonely , depressed and with mental health issues because of staying at home , so, personally I think I’ve been doing the right thing for myself because I live alone and coping with the virus my way has kept me relaxed , unfazed, happier and most importantly sane .