Forum Topic

Contact tracing

PHE explanation of contact tracing:https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/02/13/expert-interview-what-is-contact-tracing/"When we talk about “close contact” it’s important to point out that we’re not looking for people the person may have passed on the street or in a shop, as the risk in these situations is very low. A close contact involves either face to face contact or spending more than 15 minutes within 2 metres of an infected person."Note - 15 minutes.  So most casual interactions in the street or in shops will be safe.  Dangerous situations include places where people are confined to a restricted space - e.g. a household under lock down.

Andy Riley ● 2367d15 Comments

"Note - 15 minutes.  So most casual interactions in the street or in shops will be safe" or...they'd like you to think so.

Ken Munn ● 2367d

A home where someone has the Covid virus is obviously a dangerous place but the first person in any household with the virus didn’t contract it there, did they?They caught it outside of the home.That’s rather the point of the lockdown.Stop reading nonsense reports and engage your brain, Andy.

Kerry Chandler ● 2367d

If we go out we have to prepare to keep ourselves safe, mask, glasses, gloves. If we all do this it will lessen the risk.

Janice Evans ● 2367d

Does anyone know of anywhere locally where masks are available?

Colin Jordan ● 2367d

Early data from Italy suggests smokers are less likely to contract the virus in the first place but they’re still more likely to die of Covid if they do get it and are admitted to hospital.  One idea is that nicotine offers some slight protection but tar-filled lungs are a risk. In France they limited sales of stop-smoking gum because people were using it as a preventative measure.It’s still early days in terms of understanding the different risk groups.

Kerry Chandler ● 2366d

Colin, there’s a story on the front page about the chocolate shop on Turnham Green Terrace selling masks.If you’re not in a desperate hurry, you can order them at Amazon or Etsy UK - both disposable and washable/reusable ones.

Kerry Chandler ● 2366d

Thank you, Kerry.

Colin Jordan ● 2366d

If you buy washable, get a few, after use put them in a plastic bag and leave for a few days before washing them, same with gloves.

Janice Evans ● 2366d

Thank you Kerry, that answers my question about smokers on the other thread.

Janice Evans ● 2366d

Nonsense report?"In this blog Nick Phin, Deputy Director at PHE’s National Infections Service answers some questions about how this works."Did you follow the link and read the full article?

Andy Riley ● 2366d

Whoops - this was in reply to earlier post by Kerry

Andy Riley ● 2366d

Janice wrote: "after use put them in a plastic bag and leave for a few days"Apparently, it is far better to leave them somewhere warm and dry - if they are damp, the virus multiplies more easily. In fact, it is possible you won't have to wash them at all, as the virus dies within anything from 8 to 72 hours (depending on type of fabric, humidity, temperature - and probably airflow). I'd wash them anyway... but it probably isn't necessary if you leave them long enough in dry conditions.Incidentally, there is a web site that did a test of various fabrics (both for breathability and effectiveness in reducing transmission) and denim came out as being one of the the best materials for a home-made mask (https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-diy-coronavirus-homemade-mask-material-covid/) - along with paper towel and 100% cotton bed sheets (80-120 thread).My wife made one with a denim outer and shirt inner that not only looks good, it is comfortable and breathable as well.

David Fox ● 2366d

The virus needs host cells to replicate so I don’t believe that the condition of the cloth has any impact on the virus replicating (other than how long it remains viable for)

Andrew Jones ● 2366d

This 15 minute stuff is nonsense.  How about that poor ticket collector at Victoria station?  Someone spat on her a couple of weeks ago who said he had coronavirus and she has now died of it.  If someone coughs even 2 metres away and they are infected, the chance is pretty high that you will get it.  Re masks, Viking have some but they look very like the 'useless' ones that Ealing has said don't work.  http://ealingnewsextra.co.uk/latest-news/face-masks/

Claire Moran ● 2365d

Michael Brown ● 2365d