This is why you DEFINITELY need to stop shopping online during coronavirus lockdown

Being in your house practising social-distancing can get a little boring with time. You have nothing more than Netflix to keep you company, so you start online browsing. But are the sales really worth it? This is why you should be thinking before you spend money on new clothes.

Do I really need this item and will I need it when all of this is done?

The chances are, you’re bored. And there’s also a good chance you’re being sucked in by the deals that are keeping our favourite brands afloat right now. But think to yourself, do you really need new clothes to…sit at home?

But is it really safe to be ordering online during a pandemic?

Government guidance says we should only be buying essentials right now, and most of your non-supermarket stores have shut temporarily, tempting people online – and of course, it’s your personal choice. Coronavirus is incredibly contagious, and can have serious implications for more vulnerable people, so we need to work together to stay indoors and flatten the curve.

Am I putting myself or someone else at risk?

Harmful bacteria can live on plastic packaging for up to 72 hours and 24 hours on cardboard (although scientists suggest this is the safest packaging you can use in this instance), so if the person packing your order has COVID-19 without realising, it gets passed onto the delivery driver, the post office clerk, the post man, and then you.

Can I buy this from an independent business?

Shopping via an independent business or seller is safer if you simply can’t hold back on the retail therapy, so it’s time to start digging around on the likes of eBay and Depop.

Sellers on the platforms are still being briefed with safety guidelines to minimise risks, but as their businesses are usually almost entirely ran from home and often include second-hand items, there’s a lot less people handling the product, meaning less germs. It’s also good to support the people impacted during these times, right?