Shop and YOU really could drop: Doctors warn last-minute dash to stores could make you ILL
GOING to the shops this weekend could cost you your health at Christmas, doctors have warned.
Going to the shops this weekend could make you sick
Those venturing out to shopping centres today and tomorrow are much more likely to come down with colds, the flu and other viruses and bacterial infections in time for Christmas, it was claimed.
Tills are expected to be ringing to the tune of £1.2billion as festive shoppers hit the stores.
Some of the biggest shops and brands have slashed prices to tempt panic buyers this weekend on one of the last shopping days before Christmas.
But with so many people in close proximity, doctors have warned shops across the UK will form an unprecedented breeding ground for contagious germs.
Billions of pounds will be spent today in Panic Saturday
“People will be sneezing and coughing close to each other.
"If you think about an escalator - if someone touches the rail then leaves, the next person to touch that will be passed the germs onto their hands. Then they touch their face and then they will get ill.
“This as well as the aerosol effect of sneezing will spread the germs. The incubation phase for a cold to take hold is two to three days so shoppers may have a cold for Christmas next week."
A trail of shoppers in Edinburgh
Panic Saturday is absolutely a breeding ground for germs to be spread around
"It's also because people do squash in doors and are more likely to be close to someone else breathing out virus or expelling virus containing secretions onto surfaces."
Every shopper heading out today is expected to spend an average of £92.31 as they dash to get their last minute gifts and stock the fridge in anticipation of Christmas Day.
A staggering £2.1million will be spent every minute the shops are open, according to a report by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).
The CRR has predicted in-store sales will reach £4.74 billion over the five days before Christmas - a 21% increase on last year.
Spreading the Christmas germs: Shoppers are more likely to catch colds today
Department stores are said to be a “magnet” for the last minute buyers, and Debenhams is hoping to reap the benefits with some gifts half price.
Boots is also offering 60% discount on some fragrances, while Marks and Spencer has slashed prices on beauty products by up to 50%.
Britain's department stores can expect to double their takings this weekend, with outlets in the north of England set to benefit the most from Panic Saturday, according to data from payment processing company Worldpay.
It said the number of card payments processed by department stores in some parts of the UK just prior to Christmas rose by as much as 224% this time last year, with even better figures expected this year.
While today is manic, Visa Europe predicts 34 million transactions will clear on Tuesday with £1.3 billion being spent throughout the day on its cards.
Panic Saturday follows Mad Friday, where thousands of people rammed into pubs and clubs up and down the country in the last Friday before Christmas.
It is believed to be the biggest drinking day of the year with revellers celebrating the last Friday before Christmas with work colleagues and friends.
High street stores have slashed prices to entice shoppers