LIbby and I had a quick trip to Aldi this afternoon for a few bits and bobs. Many of the shelves were empty - especially tinned stuff, bread, flour, eggs, long life milk etc.
As I was walking down an aisle, coming towards me was a staff member pulling a pallet truck loaded high with toilet rolls. He resembled the Pied Piper because he was being followed by a horde of shoppers all intent on grabbing some. Those nearest to the pallet were tugging at the shrink wrap around the pallet in desperation. When the guy stopped at the bay - he couldn't push the pallet into position because he was surrounded, and he started shouting at them to clear the way. He was ignored - so he walked off and left the pallet truck and pallet in the aisle thus blocking it. The pallet had now been accessed on the one side and a veritable scrum had developed with people pushing and shoving to get to it. It was shameful behaviour by panic shoppers.
(I don't understand the logic about panic buying toilet rolls - Surely you can cut down on your consumption by the simple expediency of using both sides of the paper or use a desert spoon as a scraper.
)
We see quite a few people out and about wearing face masks. They are clearly unaware that (unless you use a proper fully enclosed biological filtered cassette gas mask) the commercial ones on sale to the public are not a defence against the virus unless someone actually sneezes or coughs close to you and emits a cloud of spittle you inhale. They are mainly used to prevent you from sneezing or coughing droplets at someone close to you when you are infected. The virus can get into your body only through your mouth, nose or eyes and is mainly transferred there by your hands. Hence the universal medical advice to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly - and not touch your face if your hands have made contact with surfaces touched by others. Handrails, shopping trolleys, door handles, ATMs and the like are prime candidates.
