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The newer and more infectious strain of Covid-19 in the UK is better at finding victims, generating much of the disease and misery that has gripped the country.
Although the blockade has closed so many avenues for people to come together and transmit it to each other, the new form of virus has created higher levels of risk. – even taking a walk in the busy park on a Sunday afternoon is risky.
It has taken root here and will become even more dominant. What are the new rules to avoid its control?
Slipping
The new variant means that people have to be even more strict with themselves when it comes to following the basics of physical distancing, wearing masks and hand washing.
It will take advantage of any shortcut.
Putting on a mask is second nature to us now, but many of us have neglected to use it correctly.
Professor Kingston Mills, from the Trinity College of Biochemistry Department, said masks must fit properly. It should cover your nose and mouth and be secure under your chin. Fasten it comfortably to the sides of your face, sliding the ties over your ears or tying the strings behind your head.
Purchases
A trip to the supermarket or corner store is still one of the few allowed outings. But the carts and baskets are touched by various people every day.
Professor Mills said that he always sanitizes and cleans handles.
“Some (stores) may be busy and others regulate the numbers. It is a greater risk than being outside, ”he said.
Supermarkets may have better ventilation than smaller stores but will have a larger number of people – increasing the chances that some will be infected. The air can also be stagnant in stores. Hand sanitizing on doors should never be neglected. The alternative to shopping in the store is to order online.
Walk in the park
Walking in the city or in a city park, or even in a popular beauty spot, is increasingly an exercise in avoiding groups of people.. Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan recently supported a call from Taoiseach Micheál Martin to wear face masks outside. Given the 5km limit and the fact that people have no choice but to gather in the same nearby recreation space, the advice now is to use one for a walk in the park.
Professor Mills said he would find another place to exercise if the walking lanes in the local park were busy. “If that’s the case, I would avoid it,” he said.
Queuing outside
The risk of transmission abroad is lower, but not zero. Keep your distance. This new variant may be associated with a higher viral load and that is what makes it more likely to be transmitted.
The more virus a person has when coughing or sneezing, the more virus particles they will release. The higher the chance they have of infecting someone.
Public transport
Airflow is essential on buses and trains, although passengers who must travel by public transport can attest to the frequent failure to comply with this simple measure.
Passengers may be distanced, but the windows are closed. There should be a cross breeze with the windows open on either side of the bus or train. This allows fresh air to enter and replace stale air.
People also need to be more careful about touching surfaces and holding onto the rails, which can be unavoidable on a bus. Other passengers may have coughed or sneezed into their hands before grabbing onto the rails. Having a small bottle of hand sanitizer on hand is one way to reduce your risk.
Superspreader
The new variant has been described as a super propagator. It is 56pc-70pc more transmittable. Scientists point to scenarios in which a person with the virus could cause another 150 new infections in a month – almost four times greater than that of the previously dominant strain. The World Health Organization said the new variant has spread to 50 countries. The most infectious South African strain, found here last week, is also found in 50 countries.
There is also a third worrisome new coronavirus variant found in Japan.
These variants make the faster implementation of Covid-19 vaccines even more urgent. The big test will be when the blocking measures are eased: will the new strains just jump-start the rate of infection again as more people mix?
Close contacts
The HSE is no longer testing close contacts of people confirmed with the virus. A person who is told that he is a close contact needs to restrict his movements. A part of these will have contracted the virus.
Given the more infectious nature of the new strain, this likely means that a significant number of close contacts could have the infection. – and may not have symptoms.
If not everyone is restricting their movements, thousands of people could risk getting out and increasing the risk of spread. This means that a potentially large group of untested people who don’t follow the rules could have been exposed to the virus.
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