Costa in Bury Street appeared to have removed its tables so that people can now only get take away drinks. Willows Shakeshop have closed ‘due to the coronavirus restrictions’ and ask customers to follow them on Facebook for updates.
There was a queue outside Boots, for the pharmacy, to get prescription, and pharmacy only drugs, or advice. Only a few people were being allowed inside at any one time. General shoppers appeared to be let in without such controls.
I was told that people can now only go into the doctors if they get a call to come in, and they are tested for symptoms before entry.
Avicenna Pharmacy was only allowing one person in at a time, and Jhoots Pharmacy only allowed three. So they both had queues outside.
Abingdon County Hall Museum has closed ‘due to the Coronavirus situation’.
Both Oxfam and the British Heart Foundation have closed all of their shops including the Abingdon ones.
The TSB in Abingdon has closed temporarily, but as it is due to close anyway that could be permanent.
Mostly Books are open, and are offering to deliver books free within a 5 mile radius.
Schools close from tomorrow for most pupils. The only pupils allowed to school will be the children of key workers, and pupils with Education and Health Care Plans.
Avicenna letting one person in at a time ….. yet they’re stood near together outside?
Went into Waitrose today…no tinned goods or loo rolls as anticipated…but no eggs either!! Not sure how long eggs last in a crisis!
We wanted to do the right thing as we are in the vulnerable catagory having health complications, however Waitrose online shopping site crashed. Tesco and Morrisons have no delivery slots showing up to the 8th April. Their sites only go up to the 8th April. I think Sainsburys are the same. We will be forced to go to the shops. I was in queue in a shop the other day. So much for social distancing. The people in the queue were all about 1 foot away from one another. We cannot follow the advice given by the Government.
Janet – a number of local independents (including Millets and Peachcroft Farm) are offering options such as pick-up of pre-orders or home delivery, but for those who are not on Facebook it is difficult to find information about these.
However a group,of volunteers has got together to offer help to people such as yourselves – they are very shortly going to put leaflets through everyone’s doors with details of local contacts so look out for that.
Also, the Farmers Market is on tomorrow so we can all stock up there and support local businesses at the same time – in the open air.
Hopefully the madness being caused by selfish people panic-buying and stockpiling will plateau soon: there are no underlying shortages, so if we are all patient we will be able to get what we need, but it is scary in the short term.
Stay safe.
I have now found an email address for the group organising volunteers for helping people who can’t get out. If you would like to volunteer contact abingdoncoronaresponse@gmail.com. I think they are looking to get leaflets out to households over this weekend.
Brilliant service from Mostly Books. Rang them at 15.40; book in stock; paid by card; book delivered to my house by one of the staff at 15.50!
Martin – I am reminded about the eggs in the Quartermaster’s stores which were “growing heads and legs”.
We’ll know there are serious problems when they re-introduce powdered egg… My dad had tins marked with this legend in which he kept nails and screws.
What worries me is that Boris thinks that you can send a virus packing. “Where to?” I want to ask.