Working With The Public

[Vagus]

It’s looking likely that people will be advised/told to work from home but what about the people who work with the public and can’t do that?
I’m thinking particularly of my niece, a single mum who is a manager of a very busy coffee shop, part of a chain of them. Will they close for the duration?
She’s concerned that she’s at risk of getting it, and even though she’s not in an ‘at risk’ group of dying from it, she’d still have to cope looking after her one year old whilst self isolating and being very poorly.
I’m just musing about it really...

[ChillDoubt]

At the risk of sounding harsh, running a coffee shop isn’t an essential part of infrastructure. It is after all, a leisure activity and will undoubtedly suffer consequences of the virus in the coming days and weeks, that’s just the way it is.

I’m off to work shortly where we’re expecting(if suspicions are correct) to be informed of our first coronavirus case to be confirmed in the next day or two. I work in an Op Theatre so don’t really have a choice about attending work unless I start showing symptoms.

[jno]

she could just post a sign saying "closed temporarily due to illness". But the self-employed, if that's what she is, do have problems.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-51840247

[teacake44]

A problem like this can only be played on a day to day bases, I would think everyone is concerned about getting it, but you can't fight an invisible enemy with any guarantee of success.

[fbg40]

Chill
In total agreement with you. Wish you all the best, all hospital staff need recognition of what they are likely to face. I would also mention our emergency services ( I'm a retired Fireman), especially the Ambulance service. Please don't panic people !!
FBG40

[pixie374]

It's a good question and my sister and I have just been talking about it, ourselves. We are self-employed and spend more or less all day every day with vulnerable people. Plus, I have a son and my sister has a daughter who will also be more vulnerable than most.
We came to the conclusion that we can only carry on as normal, with the usual precautions we take anyway, and if anything gets confirmed, we will have to see if agencies are available.

[pixie374]

We can't seem to get hold of the hand gels we usually keep in our cars though... so hopefully will find some somewhere soon.

[Vagus]

No it’s not harsh, chilli, I maybe didn’t phrase myself properly.
Of course a coffee shop isn’t necessary and I fully appreciate people in work like yours who are at risk.
I was just, as I said, musing about it all, I mentioned my niece and her job and situation because we had a long chat about it last night.

[pixie374]

Vagus, I had suggested to my sister, that our insurance probably wouldn't cover this (I mean, they are an insurance company...) and she said that there was a bit of a hooha about self-employed people losing money by self-isolating, and the government are now making payments to them as well if necessary.
I don't know any details, or where she got that from, but it may be worth your niece looking into it anyway.

[Mamyalynne]

Mention here of that...


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-51840247

[pixie374]

Ah... thank you, mamya xx

[teacake44]

Pixie, Why not get yourself a medium size water container, a bog standard bowl, with bog standard soap for the boot of your car, I know its a bit more hassle, and just dump what little used water in the gutter, you only need a small amount of water each time you wash your hands. There's no end of containers on the market, B&M, B&Q. Don't forget some clean tea towels also very cheap. :0)

[pixie374]

Thanks, teacake x at the moment we are washing our hands every time we go in or leave all houses, but we just used that as a bit extra in between as well.

[teacake44]

When I used to go into folks houses I had 3 plastic milk containers full of water with Milton in them, plus the rest, sadly some houses are not that clean.

[pixie374]

We make sure they are, as it is only us two going in. We use gloves at different points, of course, but not for literally everything.

[ChillDoubt]

Chill
In total agreement with you. Wish you all the best, all hospital staff need recognition of what they are likely to face. I would also mention our emergency services ( I'm a retired Fireman), especially the Ambulance service. Please don't panic people !!
FBG40
————
Thank you for the sentiments FBG.
One confirmed, 5 suspected as of late. ITU is closed off, we are on standby to attend the overspill when the excrement collides with the air conditioning!
C’est la vie.

[ChillDoubt]

No it’s not harsh, chilli, I maybe didn’t phrase myself properly
————
Vagus,
No offence was taken by your post nor intended by mine, again, apologies if mine appeared a little brusque.

[Vagus]

I didn’t take any offence at all Chilli, was just keen for you to know I wasn’t equating her job with yours, you’re doing a sterling job.