Where Are People Catching Covid-19 From?

[AuntPollyGrey]

The UK has now been in lockdown nearly five weeks, longer than it takes an individual to catch CV-19 and show signs, therefore the hundreds of new cases admitted yesterday into hospital and the 813 people who died in hospital yesterday must have caught the virus after the lockdown -or did they? Where are people catching the virus? In supermarkets? From delivered shopping? Post? Why is the Government not researching where people are catching the virus from now we are in lockdown.?

[pixie374]

Most people won't be literally able to self-isolate. They will still be working and buying food at least. Any contact is a risk.

[NickorWan]

There are quite a lot of key workers. A lot of them will live with other people.

https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/14763

[Zacs-Master]

The short answer is ‘from the same places they always have’. From all the articles I’ve read, scientists still don’t know exactly how (apart from the aerosol method).

[Apc2604]

Unless you live in a bubble you are vulnerable. No need for research by the government.

[ichkeria]

It’s a good question.
And I don’t think we know the answer.
The R0 for this virus is estimated now to be under one “in certain places” which it surely must be.
But the new cases are largely hospital cases. Also, increased testing ought to mean more cases discovered anyway.
I’d be surprised if many of the new cases were not people from care homes and those in areas where people are most at risk anyway.
This does suggest that social distancing for the public at large, from the point of view of hospital cases, is potentially irrelevant while it certainly does must stop the spread

[douglas9401]

Wouldn't surprise me to find that it thrives on soap and hand gel.

[dannyk13]

There are still a lot of people who are not social distancing.

[andres]

Good question. Especially in relation to the hundreds of old people stuck in care homes. They are locked in ,not allowed visitors and to my mind they are literally just 'sitting ducks'. The only people in contact with them are their care-workers. Are they carrying the virus into the homes?

[Zacs-Master]

‘ increased testing ought to mean more cases discovered anyway’

Except you can only get tested if you’re showing symptoms so they’re not really being ‘discovered’, just proven.

[pixie374]

I have looked, but can find what percentage of the population are "key workers". Does anyone know?
I find it hard to believe that even 50% of the population has had no contact whatsoever with any other human for the last 5 weeks.

[dannyk13]

They are discovered as far as if they they had not been tested they would not have been known.

[ichkeria]

Yes indeed.

As for the last part of the question I don’t think we have the technology to do that although so called contact tracing by Bluetooth may help a bit

[pixie374]

There are limits on that too, zacs. At the home my daughter works at, three have been confirmed with covid. But they will only test nursing units, not residential.

[dannyk13]

Pixie, I haven't had any contact with anyone for the last two months, other than over the phone.

[pixie374]

I didn't say "none" Danny. I just find it hard to believe it is the majority.

[Zacs-Master]

That’s not true danny. You can die from the virus having not been tested and have it diagnosed post mortem.

[bhg481]

Danny - whilst you haven't had contact with anyone for the last two months you will have had deliveries, I expect. The fact that you haven't been infected means that you've either been lucky or very diligently making sure the deliveries are sterile before using them; not everybody will have been as lucky/careful.

[aelmpvw]

post mortem may prove that the patient had the virus but it doesn't prove that it killed them

[AuntPollyGrey]

ael -no but it proves they caught the virus from somewhere, and if they were self isolating where?

[AuntPollyGrey]

I think the virus is a lot more virulent on shopping and parcels than is being let on. There should be Government advice on how to sterilise anything that comes into your home -food and parcels etc.