Just last week, Boris Johnson made an announcement that was going to change the lives of us Swindonians for the next three weeks, although widely expected to be longer than that.
One of the restrictions put in place seems to have many people lacking in common sense.
The Prime Minister said that people are allowed to leave the house to carry out essential shopping, such as to buy food and medicine, but to do so “as infrequently as possible” and to use delivery services where they could.
Infrequent shopping for basic necessities such as food or medicine he said, not a new bedding plant or shelving unit and no matter how much your other half has been nagging for you ‘to get it done’, no paint or wallpaper to redo the bedroom in your new found downtime!
So with no official guidelines about what is considered an “essential item”, let us try and help.
- If you don’t have it, will it SIGNIFICANTLY impact your health and well-being?
- Could you be putting others at risk by you going out to buy it?
- Can you order it online and have it delivered?
Now if you are in the supermarket buying your essentials and you happen to pick up a new duvet, you can be forgiven, BUT, if your basket is full of crisps, chocolate and that new duvet you really need to ask yourself, ‘Was this trip essential?’ If the answer is no then you need to take a look at your actions.
Unless we all stick together and follow the rules, this lockdown we are all currently living, which is due to be reviewed in two weeks time is going to go one of two ways:
- Extended even longer
- Become a lot more strict!
Yes, the likelihood is this current three week shutdown of the UK is going to be extended beyond the April 13th review point but if you, like me and many others are enjoying the freedom of being able to exercise for a little bit each day, follow the rules- Stay Home, Save Lives!
