[Forum Admin]

I agree wholeheartedly that the self employed need to be looked after more; surely we can all appreciate this is far more difficult to organise than the other measure such as employed who lose their jobs. Also I don't think a lot of the crazy people still out there socialising and ignoring the gov advice are self employed.

[TomCrowther]

Why do people insist on blaming "the government" ??
They have listened to the top medical advice and issued advice and guidelines how we should behave and to keep our distance etc. Its "the bloody people" who aren't doing as they are told that's exacerbating the problem.

[NWH]

Worked today all pleased to see me and said I can’t see why they’d stop you working if you are outside,I reckon we have a few days left if that before they stop us though.
I have some lovely cream booked in for tomorrow Wednesday and Thursday,the only thing I can see stopping me working is a bloke called Boris.

[NWH]

I agree can’t blame the government I just meant it’ll be Boris that announces it,Martin money said there will be more that they will tell us about at some point soon about proper help for us self employed maybe later on today.

[Arnold Palmer]

I decided to close up this morning. It's not a decision I should have had to make, it needed to be done but should have been done for me.

Normally I'm anti-tory but up until now I have thought Boris has been doing ok. Not anymore though, he needs to be clearer and needs to do something for the self employed.

Stay safe out there boys. It's only money at the end of the day.

[Richard Groves]

Exactly it's only money. I'd sooner be wrong about the whole thing in 2 weeks time and branded a gullible idiot than right and sorry for not listening sooner. 15+ years self employment has taught me to roll with the punches. You never know what is round the corner good or bad. And I've had plenty a bad time but  Ive dusted myself down and got back up. This is no different, we stand on our own, that's why self employment isn't for everyone. Although I am expecting further help from the government for the self employed in the coming days. The pressure is mounting for them to and in fairness they've done quite well so far. And being anti Tory I never thought I'd say that. These are strange times indeed.

[NWH]

They are realising after looking at the figures that they  now know that the self employed are the engine room of this country,it’s taken this to see it.
A lot of the bigger stores have seen that they are no better off staying open financially,to say they are thinking of the public is rubbish the costs of staying open and no one buying would ruin them quicker with the overheads.

[H2GoKent]

Just crack on.

Take sensible precautions.

Ignore the media hype. They are begging for a “Lockdown” because it’s a sensationalist’s dream come true. They are not on the side of the public, they are trying to out-do each other with jaw-dropping outrage. The more dramatic it all is, the more we’re all going to be glued to the news for the latest developments.

The government has (in my opinion) given proportionate advice. It’s easy to follow for window cleaners as we don’t congregate in groups to do our work. Just follow it and stop panicking.

If they eventually tell us we can’t go outside, deal with that when it happens.

More people will be harmed from media-induced panic than from the virus.

If you're not frightened, then the mainstream media isn't doing it's job. 
I agree just be sensible and respect people's decision to self isolate.

[G Griffin]

The death rate in Italy is also high because they were testing only critical cases.

Testing sounds like a killer.

Maybe they ought to stop it.

Over here it's the coronavirus.

People who are critical are more likely to die. If you're only testing the critically ill cases for corona, the mortality rate will be high.
It'll be lower, if you're testing more people for corona .

[G Griffin]

the thing is the more severe lockdowns in other countries are not working either!casualties are still getting higher and higher......

theres no chance of passing on the virus(or getting it!)cleaning outside windows if your customers pay online and you stand a few metres away from the customers so i dont see what the problem is for us cleaners......

theres even talk of stopping people going out ALTOGETHER!NOT EVEN FOR A WALK!......we re all gonna go insane stuck in the house.....mounting anger and rebellion will just see us flout  this and go for a walk/run anyway.....

its an english trait to go outside when the weathers nice and i cant see it changing anytime soon......just stay away from other people.....(its easy where i live as its only a little town)........

A lot of confusion is because they haven't introduced guidelines or laws for window cleaners, specifically. And they are unlikely to, so it'll be a blanket lockdown, I reckon.
They are concentrating more on key workers, understandably, and that's not us.
If more people were behaving more responsibly, I think it'd be easier for us to work but there's a lot of 'why should I?' going on.

[Richard Groves]

All the social distancing advice and not leaving the house unless absolutely necessary are sound. Until that is, you need to buy food. That's the flaw and what will ultimately cause the advancement of the virus if it hasn't already.

[CleanClear]

All the social distancing advice and not leaving the house unless absolutely necessary are sound. Until that is, you need to buy food. That's the flaw and what will ultimately cause the advancement of the virus if it hasn't already.

As i understand it, it definatley will advance. Us only going out when absolutley neccesary will just slow it down enough for the NHS to get a handle on the patients they are treating?

[Stoots]

All the social distancing advice and not leaving the house unless absolutely necessary are sound. Until that is, you need to buy food. That's the flaw and what will ultimately cause the advancement of the virus if it hasn't already.

Thing is I nipped into Morrisons on my way home and came into closer contact with people in a 10 minute shop than I would in a week of cleaning windows.

The supermarkets are going to be breeding grounds for the virus.

I think in China they locked everyone Down properly and delivered food to residents on a stick.  And they have pretty much stopped it in China.

Boris needs to put the boot down.

[dazmond]

They say petrol/diesel pump handles are a potential breeding ground when filling up....... 

[Richard Groves]

They say petrol/diesel pump handles are a potential breeding ground when filling up....... 

That goes for anything the general public have touched before you. Another good reason for heeding the warning and staying home. If you really must then washing your hands before and after and refraining from touching your face is good practice.

[Richard Groves]

All the social distancing advice and not leaving the house unless absolutely necessary are sound. Until that is, you need to buy food. That's the flaw and what will ultimately cause the advancement of the virus if it hasn't already.

As i understand it, it definatley will advance. Us only going out when absolutley neccesary will just slow it down enough for the NHS to get a handle on the patients they are treating?

So did people panic buy or shop smart  ?... There must be plenty out there now who could go weeks without having to even open their front door.

[Dave Willis]

I had a record day today.

Beautiful sunny day. All retired customers all concerned about the virus. Some left money on the steps and backed away. Some self isolating. All pleased to see me.
Had a phonecall though from my best paying commercial job wanting to check my contact details and frequency of clean so I guess they may cancel soon.

[CleanClear]

All the social distancing advice and not leaving the house unless absolutely necessary are sound. Until that is, you need to buy food. That's the flaw and what will ultimately cause the advancement of the virus if it hasn't already.

As i understand it, it definatley will advance. Us only going out when absolutley neccesary will just slow it down enough for the NHS to get a handle on the patients they are treating?

So did people panic buy or shop smart  ?... There must be plenty out there now who could go weeks without having to even open their front door.

I'm not certain either way, but most of the toilet roll pictures i've seen where clearly photoshopped pictures. But either way the stock was gone off the shelves. Reality is the stores don't hold that many, it only takes most people doing a shop to pop "one extra" in the trolley and the shelves are empty. Thats why there is no shortage of anything and the supermarkets are taking on extra staff to get it out there. Anyway, Tescos by mine this morning no queues, and "most" stock back on the shelves like you'd normally see.

[NWH]

They should have said forget paying the July Tax,if people have too long off they’ll be in trouble again in January.
Don’t forget most people have had a normal year work wise and that Tax year is about to finish so we will have that to pay as well.

[Arnold Palmer]

They should have said forget paying the July Tax,if people have too long off they’ll be in trouble again in January.
Don’t forget most people have had a normal year work wise and that Tax year is about to finish so we will have that to pay as well.

Announcement at half eight.

Fingers crossed.