Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Dec 11, 2024 2:46:48 GMT
Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 8 December 2024 - Published Dec 10, 2024
For the third week in a row, Covid infection levels in England have remained roughly flat. 1 in every 252 people were infected as of 8 December, and the risk of meeting an infected person in your everyday life remains Moderately High. However, cases of influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are rising rapidly, and have been for the last 5 weeks.
As a statistical example of the current risk of catching Covid, a typical busy supermarket will have 1 or 2 infected people breathing out virus for you to breathe in. A typical full single decker bus will have an infected person breathing out virus every 2 or 3 journeys. There will be an infected person beathing our virus in every two busy train carriages. If you work in a large, air-conditioned office or warehouse/factory without air purification, there will be around 2 infected people.
The data we have suggests that we are in the early stages of an influenza and RSV wave, but Covid is not yet rising to expected levels. The data for all three viruses (Covid, influenza, and RSV) is partly based on GP diagnosis, and partly on laboratory testing. This makes it less likely that cases of Covid are being misdiagnosed as influenza or RSV, or the other way round. Remember, precautions against Covid-19 will also protect against influenza and RSV, as they are all airborne respiratory viruses.
We urge everyone who is entitled to a free Covid or flu vaccination to get it immediately. The flu vaccination is widely available from GPs, pharmacies, and other NHS sources. However, you will only be able to book a Covid vaccination appointment online until 20 December. You may be able to get a vaccination through your GP after that date. If you are not entitled to a free Covid or flu vaccination, please consider whether paying for the jab would be a good investment (if you can afford it, of course). Remember to wear a close-fitting respiratory mask (FFP2 or FFP3) when you have the jab – doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies are extremely high risk for catching Covid.
Remember: Covid, flu, and RSV are airborne. An infected person in an unventilated place creates a large invisible cloud of virus which hangs in the air like smoke, ready for you to breathe in. BuDS strongly recommends that disabled and clinically vulnerable people avoid public transport and indoor spaces unless they are wearing a filter mask (FFP2/3) or respirator. For more advice, use this link.
Because the NHS has not improved the ventilation in its buildings, hospitals and GP practices are extremely dangerous places to catch Covid. NHS staff are now required to work even if they have Covid and there are no Covid precautions in place at most NHS buildings. Do avoid hospitals and GP practices unless your visit is essential and wear a tight-fitted filter mask (FFP2 or FFP3) or respirator all the time if you have to go there.
By popular demand, BuDS is now on Substack. You can now subscribe to our free Covid Information feed, and receive vital information like our weekly risk assessments direct from BuDS into your email inbox. budscovidinfo.substack.com/
This is BuDS’ 205th Covid risk assessment since the beginning of the pandemic. If you value our Covid information work, including these risk assessments, please consider making a donation to safeguard our work for the future. If you are able to contribute, please visit www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/buds-covid-info.
To understand more about our Covid risk levels and what they mean, use this link.
For more Covid information and help, please contact BuDS and we will be happy to help.
For the third week in a row, Covid infection levels in England have remained roughly flat. 1 in every 252 people were infected as of 8 December, and the risk of meeting an infected person in your everyday life remains Moderately High. However, cases of influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are rising rapidly, and have been for the last 5 weeks.
As a statistical example of the current risk of catching Covid, a typical busy supermarket will have 1 or 2 infected people breathing out virus for you to breathe in. A typical full single decker bus will have an infected person breathing out virus every 2 or 3 journeys. There will be an infected person beathing our virus in every two busy train carriages. If you work in a large, air-conditioned office or warehouse/factory without air purification, there will be around 2 infected people.
The data we have suggests that we are in the early stages of an influenza and RSV wave, but Covid is not yet rising to expected levels. The data for all three viruses (Covid, influenza, and RSV) is partly based on GP diagnosis, and partly on laboratory testing. This makes it less likely that cases of Covid are being misdiagnosed as influenza or RSV, or the other way round. Remember, precautions against Covid-19 will also protect against influenza and RSV, as they are all airborne respiratory viruses.
We urge everyone who is entitled to a free Covid or flu vaccination to get it immediately. The flu vaccination is widely available from GPs, pharmacies, and other NHS sources. However, you will only be able to book a Covid vaccination appointment online until 20 December. You may be able to get a vaccination through your GP after that date. If you are not entitled to a free Covid or flu vaccination, please consider whether paying for the jab would be a good investment (if you can afford it, of course). Remember to wear a close-fitting respiratory mask (FFP2 or FFP3) when you have the jab – doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies are extremely high risk for catching Covid.
Remember: Covid, flu, and RSV are airborne. An infected person in an unventilated place creates a large invisible cloud of virus which hangs in the air like smoke, ready for you to breathe in. BuDS strongly recommends that disabled and clinically vulnerable people avoid public transport and indoor spaces unless they are wearing a filter mask (FFP2/3) or respirator. For more advice, use this link.
Because the NHS has not improved the ventilation in its buildings, hospitals and GP practices are extremely dangerous places to catch Covid. NHS staff are now required to work even if they have Covid and there are no Covid precautions in place at most NHS buildings. Do avoid hospitals and GP practices unless your visit is essential and wear a tight-fitted filter mask (FFP2 or FFP3) or respirator all the time if you have to go there.
By popular demand, BuDS is now on Substack. You can now subscribe to our free Covid Information feed, and receive vital information like our weekly risk assessments direct from BuDS into your email inbox. budscovidinfo.substack.com/
This is BuDS’ 205th Covid risk assessment since the beginning of the pandemic. If you value our Covid information work, including these risk assessments, please consider making a donation to safeguard our work for the future. If you are able to contribute, please visit www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/buds-covid-info.
To understand more about our Covid risk levels and what they mean, use this link.
For more Covid information and help, please contact BuDS and we will be happy to help.