What are the ‘essential items’ and how frequently should we purchase them?

On Monday the Prime Minister and First Minister of Scotland announced that the UK would effectively be going into lockdown, with very few exceptions to leave the house. Britons can leave he house for one hours of exercise alone or with the members of your household, to care for a vulnerable person, for medical care or to shop for ‘essential items’.

But what constitutes as an ‘essential item’? There has been no official guidance as of yet, leaving the British public to decide for themselves.

People should bare in mind that the new extreme measures taken by the government are warranted by extreme circumstances.  All in an effort to keep the most vulnerable safe, and slow down the spread of COVID-19 so that our NHS won’t become too overwhelmed. Lives really do depend on our cooperation in this lockdown.

Shopping for ‘essential items’ should therefore be quite self-explanatory. Items such as:

• Baby formula/nappies
• Sanitary products
• Medication
• Toilet roll

Other items such as food and drink should be purchased in a once a week shop rather than continuously nipping out.