COVID-19: LET’S GET ON WITH LIFE. BUT HOW?

Per ZOE app, as below

 “We can’t lock ourselves away any longer.  You could get run over crossing the road.  Let’s get on with life!”

That’s understandable after all these months.  It’s what we all want.  

But in crossing the road, wouldn’t you look and listen, and only cross when there was a gap in the traffic?  Basic precautions.

As with many other aspects of our lives, the same principle of taking precautions applies to COVID-19.  Except the virus is invisible and silent.  The problem is people are infectious before they display symptoms.  As the World Health Organisation says "Laboratory data suggests that infected people appear to be most infectious just before they develop symptoms (namely 2 days before they develop symptoms) and early in their illness. People who develop severe disease can be infectious for longer."  So we can’t tell who might be infectious.  

The now-prevalent Delta variant is very infectious.  So basic precautions need to suit the risks.
 

BUT I’M DOUBLE-VAXED

Andrew Marr

We know COVID-19 can be more serious than flu, even when vaccinated:

• People can be very unpleasantly ill for several days despite being double-jabbed, such as Andrew Marr
• Even very fit people can suffer adverse symptoms months after infection, so-called Long Covid.  Such as racing driver Lewis Hamilton
• People are still getting hospitalised and dying.  

It’s therefore worth avoiding this disease.  The vaccination programme in the UK is working very well at a population level, and well worthwhile for individuals.  

But there are still those residual risks, vaxed or not.
 

BUT AREN’T CASE NUMBERS DROPPING?

It’s good news that infection rates are dropping in total in the UK, but the total is still high at around 25,000 new confirmed cases per day.  This hides there are recent rises in all areas of England except the North East.  

For example, infection levels are still high in Oxford, according to the Kings College ZOE study:

Oxford cases per Kings College ZOE app

Until infection rates are back low and staying low, it therefore makes sense to continue to take basic precautions to avoid catching the disease.  Whatever your age or health status.

WHAT BASIC PRECAUTIONS?

As the virus spreads principally through the air in people’s breath, avoiding close contact with people is the main precaution.  As far as possible avoiding crowded indoor places such as pubs and public transport.   Keeping visits to shops short.  Wearing masks to protect each other.  Meeting outside when possible.

So yes, let’s get on with life.  But let’s do so with care.

Do you agree?  Or not?