This 'vulnerable' label ----

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-52139917

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/25/uk-postal-workers-plea-for-limit-to-non-essential-deliveries-royal-mail-coronavirus

I very much doubt that Amazon is doing all it can for its staff.

I have no idea which businesses are over-run, but it is easy to order from small companies who would otherwise struggle. If you are talking about supermarkets, yes, they are very busy, but it is the only way that some people (those without cars, or who have conditions that mean they are staying indoors, or all sorts of other groups) can get a decent variety of groceries.

I have no insider info (do you?) but can see that the Royal Mail and Parcel Force are probably operating in difficult circumstances, and that sorting offices etc will not be places where it is easy to observe social distancing.

Maybe companies should be making it clearer which delivery services they are using, so that people can factor that in to their decisions whether or not to buy.

Most occupational therapists are great recyclers and a lot of their activities involve household items not running out for brand new craft kits. .

Got my Downing Street letter this morning---nothing special as it involves everyone not just the vulnerable etc. It's not something we don't already know and would have been best done at the beginning of the spread, but hey-ho, still adhering to the rules.

As you said Katek, we have garden space, which at a time like this with the sun belting down is a godsend and I too feel for those who haven't got this necessity for children and a garden is vital when you have children.

Postal unions are saying that social distancing is impossible with the huge increase in demand

I’m sure that Amazon and other online retailers are taking all the precautions they can for their staff

An amazon warehouse had to shut because CV19 was spreading there. In other warehouses staff are walking out or getting fired for refusing to work unsafely.

But these businesses that are still are overrun not going under so youre not doing some altruistic deed by ordering extras.

Social distancing is not possible when they are overrun. Its hard enough to achieve in a busy warehouse/shop as it is without all of the extras.

Internet orders are UP four fold for some of these companies.

Sorry, I cross-posted with you, Katek. I wasn't ignoring your points .

Our local FB site has put on one or two photos of boys congregating with their bikes with faces not visible. Their parents and people who knew them would still recognise them though. (Their parents probably thought they were responsibly exercising on their bikes.) It does seem to have stopped it!

Well, a lot depends on how 'frivolous' is defined here. I'm not psychologist, but even I can see that some people cope by doing things that require supplies. Occupational therapy has always involved things like knitting, painting, even basket weaving.

Also, a lot of delivery men and women are not on substantive contracts, and fall into that gap between employed and self-employed, so will get neither the help given to self-employed people nor the 80% of salary given to furloughed employees. If nobody orders online, they would have no income and no support from the state, as well as owing money on their vans and hand-held devices (see Ken Loach's Sorry We Missed You).
Collecting parcels from a depot can be done safely, and spending the shift in a van on their own, leaving parcels on doorsteps is not going to put the drivers at significant risk if they observe social distancing.

Regarding the way in which people are spending their time out of doors - if (and only if) they observe the 2m social distance, I can see no issue with them sitting on the grass, particularly if they suffer from SAD or a vitamin D deficiency. At least they are easy to avoid, unlike joggers or cyclists on pavements.

If we all concentrate on doing what we can to keep ourselves and others safe, and use less mental energy on picking fault with how we perceive that others are falling short, we might get through this a bit more easily.

The economic well-being of the country is also shot to hell atm. We have to try and ensure that businesses are kept afloat so that they’re still there when this is over. This is a balancing act for the government and us all. People like myself who are in isolation for 12 weeks cannot just sit on the sofa clutching a remote control for 84 days, We can’t even go out for a walk, god only knows how those in flats with no outdoor space are coping. I’m walking round in circles in my modest sized garden and it’s far from ideal. As a child in the 50s I was in hospital for some time - we had occupational therapists to provide us with craft activities. These activities have long been seen as necessary for mental well-being ..... all those jokes about basket weaving aside, we all need stimulus and a sense of achievement. I’m sure that Amazon and other online retailers are taking all the precautions they can for their staff, it’s in their own best interest to keep a healthy workforce. Anyway have you ever seen inside an Amazon warehouse? They’re so enormous that you’d be lucky (or unlucky) to meet anyone!

I wonder if people would still find those items so "essential" if it was their loved ones having to stand in those narrow shops all day.

It seems that every frivolous purchase at the moment is justified as "mental health" but I havent seen a single psychologist or psychiatrist suggest buying more new stuff as a coping strategy!

E.g. holland and barrett staff say it is impossible to do social distancing in their store layouts, and people are still coming in for frivolous things like essential oils. They are upset that they are being put at risk daily for this.

Many people are doing exactly as they are told which is a good thing. Also many young people are behaving in good ways.
There are still plenty of people taking risks in several of the age groups neither be it old or young.

I took my dog on my exercise time and walked on the grassy field along near the tennis courts. In one tennis court two people were playing tennis. In the second tennis court a group of young boys (maybe 14- 16 years old) were all grouped together with three of them sitting on the bench shoulder to shoulder and the other four standing close together. From the loud banter they were engaged in Most of the language consisted of F---- this and F- that and quite expletive. I made my exit out of the grass area as I felt somewhat intimidated and I am surprised the two other tennis players carried on regardless.
I have seen no patrolling police cars or those community police on the bikes for at least 2 weeks or more where have they all gone?

while mental illnesses can stay with people for a lifetime.

Again the mental health of warehouse/delivery/shop workers is in tatters because people are putting their lives at risk whilst staying safe at home themselves.

If it is essential enough to you that you would put yourself or your loved one at risk to get it, then that is a good rule of thumb.

If you wouldnt risk you or yours to get it, you dont need it enough to have some stranger putting themselves at risk for it.

No it is not a haven of social distancing out there in firms that are still operating. Look at the news and the walk outs and the reports from unions!

Its more palatable to be at risk for essentials than to be at risk for peoples whims

notanan I have no idea how we can balance the metal health needs of those stuck at home against the physical health of those in work. Reputable firms will be taking all proper precautions to protect their staff.

Many online firms are one man and a dog (or one woman and a cat) operations, so there is no danger.

How would you split the demands for both sides? Bearing in mind that for 95% plus of the population, especially those under 50, Covid-19 will be a mild illness, while mental illnesses can stay with people for a lifetime.

We have an allotment, drive to it most days as DH can't walk there, its a mile away. There aren't any on line slots available locally,so I am still going to the supermarket.

MOnica what about the mental health of the shop/warehouse/delivery workers.

Many including royal mail, boohoo, holland and barrett have gone to their unions in droves about the effects on them and their mental health of having to put themselves at risk so people can buy non essentials

We walk once a day mainly on back routes. The occasional people we see all adhere to the 6’ apart and most make wider gaps.

ExD. Once a day seems a sensible rule. If we could double or triple the outings it would be much more difficult with more people out and not being able to keep a safe distance.

I agree MOnica

I also don’t see what is wrong with people driving to tend their allotment if it isn’t within walking distance.

The vegetables grown could well ensure one fewer supermarket shop.

Despite all the criticisms of people allegedly flouting the rules, we can surely all see by the much quieter roads and semi deserted streets that most people ARE staying at home for a considerable part of each day.

notanan I can only assume you have unassailably perfect mental health under all conditions. Most people do not live in large roomy houses with large gardens. Many are cooped up in small flats or houses with all their family or on their own. If they are in the 'shielded' group they are stuck indoors 24/7 for three months, if they are socially distancing, mooching around the local streets for an hours exercise is no compensation for the 23 hour lock down that follows.

We know the effect 23 hour lock downs have in prison, it is worse at home and under those circumstances for most people, though obviously not for you, their mental health begins to suffer. If doing craft, or DIY or gardening helps them keep them happy and occupied instead of slumped on a settee watching endless box sets and eating, then every single item ordered is an essential.

I posted earlier today about a group of young boys riding their bikes in local woodland. About an hour ago, an air ambulance helicopter landed in an adjoining field and airlifted one of the boys away. He's apparently broken his legs whilst doing stunt jumps over fallen tree branches. Just what the NHS needs right now.

Live near a royal park, walked this afternoon, everyone seemed to be fully complying with social distancing, feel very fortunate to have such a lovely space nearby, and also to have our little garden. It must be awful to be cooped up in a flat with small children.