Mask & gloves

I have been going to Waitrose once a week since the beginning as cannot get a delivery slot. I’m 75 and shopping for myself and husband with heart condition who is 86. I find it very easy as go in “ Oldies hour” and am let straight in. Trolley is sterilised and given to me. Have been able to get everything I want although noticed last week there was no flour at all. I enjoyed getting out and driving there although this week much more traffic.

I'm almost 76 and so far healthy, my wife is 64 and classed as vulnerable for a number of reasons. I've given up gloves, just wipe shopping down and wash my hands carefully. I do wear a mask and try to avoid crowded places. Being retired, a cyclist and able to drive I can avoid public transport. Shopping once a week using a list which my wife has made out from indoors.

Take every precaution you can .

I manage to get slots to shop online and have deliveries, trouble is I overshop because of the minimum spend for delivering.

I go early with a face covering but I’ve noticed hardly anyone bothers with one now, I still do, mmm seem to get looked at oh well I do what I want

Sometimes anxiety can be as contagious as a virus. Life will have to return to some sort of normality. My family are working from home as much as possible but my son is in the hospitality industry and unless things improve before too long he won't have a job. I have a granddaughter who is self-isolating with her husband and they are both in their thirties but terrified of leaving their house and yet I have friends in their 80s who aren't. There is a fine line between fear and foolhardy, but I do worry about those who are too frightened to step foot outside at the moment - the longer it goes on the more difficult it could be. You can see an interactive map of your area and it will tell you how many people have been affected - it might give people more confidence to go out if they see that there are not many cases in their neighbourhood.

We live in a rural area and can't get a delivery. I go once a week to the closest supermarket about 25 min. drive away. I am 72 with no underlying conditions and wear a mask and gloves. Everything is very organised. Staff all wearing masks and gloves.

Masks CAN be made at home,if you cant buy online-(they are expensive some of them) they're easy enough my DD made us all some- theres a guide online.and gloves are easy to get on amazon etc..maybe wipes too.

I still have to go to local hosp for regular blood tests for warfarin, so i go wearing plastic gloves and am covered up not showing flesh (till have to reveal arm for blood test) and still use hand sanitizer in there,even with gloves on. I figure the hospitals well cleaned down daily anyway,and theres been hardly any people in, so im safer having it done there than anywhere else- i will wear a mask also next visit (in a couple of wks)- ive also been to supermarket&frozen food shop a couple of times, im not in 60's or 70's, but have some health issues. But so long as we're extra careful,its all we can do.

Missee

Try these: tgvmuk.store

I’m avoiding them and only using on line deliveries or click and collect ( sage and a run out as 15 miles from us). Have been to local shop on couple of occasions for fresh milk and a paper - what a luxury - with mask and gloves. Be very careful as the worst is yet to come. Herd immunity!

Do you not feel it's an obligation to protect others, though?

Those others may well come into contact with your family members at some point.

My understanding is that you are supposed to wear a mask when shopping. DH went to our local Aldi to get a loaf of bread and the three other shoppers had masks and gloves on the same as DH.
There is no reason to believe you will infect yourself by removing gloves, just adopt operating theatre technique, place two fingers inside of the cuff of the glove and pull the glove inside out and off your hand. We carry nappy sacks to deposit gloves and anti-viral wipes.

I do feel confused by the conflicting advice about masks. Collecting our prescriptions from Boots I wore gloves, but then reasoned that the gloves would get contaminated and taking them off would mean my hands needed washing, which I would do at once when getting home in any event, so why wear them? The virus does not go through skin. Masks are no use unless they are tight fitting, and the eyes are still exposed. Another train of thought is that people get over confident if they are wearing a mask and tend to touch their faces more - if only to adjust the mask! I am twitchy about my first proper going out, but when I do I think it will be a 'social distancing touch as little as possible and wash hands at home' kind of outing! I have been happier since I bought several bottles of 'Zoflora' and I can disinfect everything in sight with a diluted solution in a spray bottle.

Interesting, BUT where do I get masks and gloves , and never been able to get wipes, just manage (indoors ) with soap and water and bleach.

I go shopping the same as I always did, twice a week. It’s an auto pilot thing, so I’m less likely to get agitated or make mistakes. I tried once a week, but it took ages, my list was so long, and I kept missing things on it and had to back track, which I felt was less safe than just going twice. I also couldn’t get everything in my freezer when I got home! Despite this, I still found it stressful at first, but I did start shopping in the mornings. Now I’ve gone back to afternoons, it’s much better. People seem more relaxed then. I shop at Sainsbury’s, and they’re excellent at keeping us all safe. Mostly, I’ve found there’s only a few of us in an aisle. I have wipes in the car, so use one on the trolley before I start, and then have it with me going round. Back at the car, start a fresh one to wipe down my handbag, purse etc. and my gloves. Then take gloves off. Once home, the chore of washing the shopping starts!! Funnily enough, I now find that quite therapeutic. Worrying isn’t it?!?

I go to supermarkets a lot as I am also shopping for some elderly (more elderly) neighbours.
About 10% of shoppers wear masks. I don't TBH. I still remember the advice given at the beginning that you are only stopping others getting your germs by wearing a mask not protecting yourself. Plus I am claustrophobic & I hate the idea.
I saw a woman yesterday in a really fancy bit of equipment with filters & eye shields etc. I assume she was at risk.
Generally people are very considerate & keep their distance as they do in the queue outside.
Just a word for those of you who are having neighbours helping you out. Every time I take his shopping over & leave it outside his door my neighbour rings 5 mins later - not to say thank you ( although that does not bother me) but to berate me for not getting him all organic food. I have to explain every time that I would get it if they had it in stock. I even asked the man at Waitrose about it & they are not getting much as it does not keep as well. It is very annoying when I am doing my best to help him.
Takes all sorts!

Never managed to get a delivery slot so have had to shop. I always wear a mask because it makes me feel safer. I zap my shopping with the app at Sainsbury’s but put it in the trolley. Back at the car I use wipes for my hands and my phone and spray everything before loading it into bags. Really, if it’s going to get me, it will but I love being out at the shops having human contact, albeit distanced.

The advice is only to wear masks in enclosed spaces. The risk of catching this virus in open spaces is negligible, which is why the lock down easing is concentrating on the great outdoors.
Perspective, folks! I am slightly concerned that some of the older generation, even those in good health, are in danger of becoming agoraphobic (Spelling?) with all the mental health issues that entails.

Masks can protect others, though.

I turned 70 in March. Been shopping every two weeks since the pandemic. I wear a mask, take my own anti bacterial wipes for steering wheel, handles and trolley handles, etc. Once indoors I spray the bags and packaging with Dettol spray and. I wasn't informed about locking down but have been staying indoors, taking a multi vitamin and minerals plus vitamin C daily. I think it's important to boost our immune system so if you contract the virus your body has a better chance of fighting it off. We can't stay locked away forever but must take precaution if we have to venture out.

Masks will not protect you if you wear them. They are more designed for blocking a sufferer from spreading the virus , which is why it has been suggested that people using public transport wear them.
If you wear gloves, and you touch something that an infectious person has touched, you will just spread the virus to the next item you touch.
Great care has to be taken in removing the gloves when you get home and you will still need to wash your hands when you get home.
My son does our shopping. He goes to the supermarket from about 6pm when there are no queues to get in and as the supermarket is doing a "one in one out" system and there is also a route for customers to follow round the shop.
He sprays his hands with antibac spray once he has got out of the car and takes anti bac wet wipes for the trolley. He hasn't worn a mask yet but he did say that he pulled his scarf up over his face last night as two twonks with a trolley each were going the wrong way round the store!
Once he gets home, he washes his hands and I do all the wipe down measures or decanting into containers for all of the shopping !

Totally agree with railman. I’ve just got to get hold of a mask.

No - I don't wear either.

However I am not in any at risk group - and only go out in public place once per week (at most) to do the shopping for our household and for mother in law.

Husband is working at home so mixes with fewer people than I do. (he doesn't come to the supermarket with me) and son is pretty much living in his bedroom.

I have seen shoppers wearing gloves who repeatedly rub their noses, faces, touch their hair. As a pp said they will get out their phone with gloved hands and transfer any virus before putting it back in their handbag/pocket. Masks are likely to be hot and sweaty and folk with touch and adjust them.

When i get home I wash my hands, then I wipe down all the shopping with soapy water and a splash of Zoflora. Leave it to dry and put away. I fold up the shopping bags and put them back in my car boot for the next trip - which will be two weeks time as I alternate which car I use. Then I wash my hands again and using my disinfectant soapy cloth wipe down the front door handles, the fridge door, cupboard doors and anything else I may have touched. I can't do any more than that.

If it becomes law then of course I will wear a mask but I see it as leading to a false sense of security.

We go to M&S me with face mask, both of us with clean gloves. with a couple of home deliveries this means we go about once every 2/3 weeks. Venture out and has been said just check shop before you go in, try older age hour but we have found 5 o'clock in the evening better.