Who is getting infected still?

The infection rate continues albeit not as high a rate as we have seen. Surely there must be some evidence of who are still becoming infected with COVID-19 after six weeks of lockdown. Is it NHS staff, Care Workers, Shop Workers, Super Market Workers? Identity the trend!

Why the contribution is important

If we can see a clear pattern as to why this infection continues to spread after six weeks of lockdown, it will give the Government a better chance to target the infection where the spread is greatest, it will give greater public confidence when easing the Lockdown if this can be identified.

by jaclen on May 05, 2020 at 02:20PM

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Based on: 82 votes

Comments

  • Posted by JaneySue May 05, 2020 at 14:23

    Very valid point.

  • Posted by PeachesHumph May 05, 2020 at 14:27

    I have been a bit bemused by this myself, living in Grampian we have seen quite large daily increases, after such a long period of lockdown, who are all these people.

  • Posted by samur May 05, 2020 at 14:49

    Yes it would be good to see who is still getting infected. Is this mainly key workers? and if so it would make sense for any non essential key workers eg certain admin staff to work from home rather than being forced to work in health settings

  • Posted by RobertChia May 05, 2020 at 14:50

    I find it mind-boggling that the relative success in containing the virus amongst SE Asian countries like Vietnam, Taiwan and even little Macau has not been noted and lessons learnt. They did not have the ability to test extensively like South Korea, nor were they complacent like Singapore who now hav3 over 19,000 cases! The one thing that all three did in common was: 1) close borders; 2) lockdown (between 2-4 weeks) and most important and relevant NOW, insist on the wearing of facemasks (facecovering) in ALL enclosed public places. We should have done this six weeks ago. The question scientific experts seeks to find an answer to about How useful facemasks are, is the wrong one posed. In the face of a relatively unknown virus, the question should be ‘IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT FACEMASKS/FACECOVERINGS ACTUALLY CAUSE AN INCREASE IN TRANSMISSION? The answer is NO!! Therefore, even if we cannot be sure about how useful facemasks are, we know for sure they do no harm, contrary to the unfounded fears raised by some experts about fiddling with masks etc. You have to remember that in this lockdown situation if I am going into a supermarket, it will be only for a short period of half an hour perhaps so issues about mask discomforts are not very relevant; that is the practical experience.

    In Scotland, if there is fear of insufficient facemasks, it is first a failure of foresight. Be that as it may, the Chinese consulate in Edinburgh can always be called upon for assistance. I know, even individuals in the Chinese community here have, on their own initiative, brought in shipments for free distribution as early as late March. I myself received 2000 facemasks which I have donated to 3 carehomes in Angus and Fife.

    It is good to extend this discussion to the public as there can always be someone who can offer constructive suggestions about how to proceed. Vietnam with a population of some 95million Does not have the level of healthcare we have and yet, they have succeeded spectacularly. They, not Singapore are the model to follow.

  • Posted by sannadog May 05, 2020 at 14:53

    In addition, it would be helpful if the geographical area of a higher rate of infection could be identified. Too often people will probably say, well we all follow the social distance rules, it must be people elsewhere. However that might not be the case. If for example Grampian was a hot spot, that would focus the minds of people living there to be extra vigilant.

  • Posted by benmo May 05, 2020 at 14:54

    why are there still people being infected if everybody is maintaining social distancing and adhering to lockdown rules?

  • Posted by Ziggy127 May 05, 2020 at 15:02

    Agreed, draconian enforcement of lockdown is barmy in this technological age and lack of quality communication from central governments only serves to frustrate.

  • Posted by jenny333 May 05, 2020 at 15:26

    I was wondering the same thing.

  • Posted by Rachel_T1502 May 05, 2020 at 16:17

    Agree- could the government encourage increased uptake of something like the covid symptom tracker app to help spot the patterns, strongly agree with comments about face coverings- even if made from old T shirts etc

  • Posted by dhepburn May 05, 2020 at 21:42

    About 90% of people who have died of COVID-19 in the UK have been over 60 and/or have underlying health conditions. About 30-50% of them are dying in care homes.

    There were no COVID-19 cases in Skye until the recent outbreak at a care home where 27 care workers and 30 residents were infected and 2 residents have now died.

    The government have only recently started talking about PPE in care homes and track and tracing for the general population.

  • Posted by Kylesku May 05, 2020 at 21:53

    We wont get this info as it will not scare of terrrify you.

    The only info that both govts want to share is that which will strike the fear of god into you.

    It is a pity as we should be treated like adults & allowed to make up own minds

  • Posted by dhepburn May 05, 2020 at 23:33

    Also, to put the deaths into perspective:

    1620 people have died of COVID-19 in Scotland. The population of Scotland is 5.5 million thus 0.03% have died of COVID-19.

  • Posted by Nell5a May 06, 2020 at 00:02

    I totally agree - govt should be sharing info on where ongoing transmission is coming from.

    Also, more info needed to allow people to assess their own risk i.e. incidence of virus contamination of items bought in supermarkets. What is it? How fastidious do I need to be when bringing that shopping home?

    What insights have been gleaned into how infection is being transmitted in reality?

  • Posted by Cam60 May 06, 2020 at 12:17

    Anything that reduces the risk of infection spread should be implemented.

    Face coverings should be mandatory within all confined spaces I.e. shops, offices, hospitals care ho,Ed etc.
    Care Homes Infection control procedures must be reviewed, enhanced and staff retrained where appropriate
    Hospital infection control procedures must be reviewed, enhanced and staff retrained where appropriate
     

  • Posted by NanaLaura May 06, 2020 at 15:51

    I have been wondering exactly the same thing. I wonder if it would be a sensible idea to start track and trace with those who are presenting as new cases and work from there

  • Posted by SAM May 06, 2020 at 17:34

    This is a no brainer! Target limited PPE equipment and resources rather than a fingers crossed scatter gun approach!

  • Posted by GrendelsMother May 06, 2020 at 19:15

    I completely agree with this point.

  • Posted by jrob May 06, 2020 at 21:09

    Completely agree.

  • Posted by Colin87 May 07, 2020 at 07:09

    Strongly agree. This is the way to ease lockdown in a structured sensible way rather than the approach of no change to any lockdown measures. The current approach of no change mixes actual evidence (or the lack of it in transmission routes) with knee jerk reaction which will loose public support.

  • Posted by Magsathome May 07, 2020 at 08:13

    Totally agree with this point

  • Posted by vivmiller May 07, 2020 at 14:32

    Strongly agree.

  • Posted by VikingL May 07, 2020 at 20:08

    What a very important valid point - well put and definitely something that should be looked into. Personally I will happily wear a mask when I am allowed out!

  • Posted by LAM May 08, 2020 at 11:47

    Totally agree -we must know from positive tests who people are ie worker category and where exactly the cases are. While data is published at health board area level it must be available at more detailed level. Publish it to postcode area level and everyone will know where "hotspots" are and we can avoid them if we choose to or take additional precautions. That is how places like South Korea have gone on top of outbreaks.

  • Posted by BruceE2 May 08, 2020 at 15:02

    I agree, and if the evidence does not exist then we should be collecting it from people who present with symptoms

  • Posted by Chimp May 08, 2020 at 16:46

    I believe the R number for the general population is significantly below 1, but is being inflated by care home figures where most new cases seem to be occurring. Lockdown care homes as tight as a drum, and allow the rest of us some respite from the unnecessarily draconian lockdown measures. I live in Lothian where only around 2000 cases have been reported in total from a population of almost 1 million. How many patients have been admitted to the Louisa Jordan??? Get some perspective and let us out to participate in activities where we can maintain social distancing.

  • Posted by HelenMM May 09, 2020 at 21:56

    Agreed. We have been wondering this ourselves. However, I have a question.. In light of both of the Governments (UK and Scottish) muddling up some data and their explanations of it, what exactly does the daily infection rate show us? At first I thought it was the people currently tested positive for having Covid 19. But now they are also doing antibody testing so it will show people who have had Covid 19. But the news only states 'tested positive'. So would it not be better to divide them to 'currently have' and 'have had'?

  • Posted by AlJones May 09, 2020 at 22:59

    Very little is known about this virus. A recent report from America alleged that Covid-19 patients were being surveyed, and that around 2/3 had apparently contracted the virus despite being in lockdown. The expectation had been that those contracting it at this stage would be people still operating in higher risk environments. So it is a fair question to ask who is getting it, and what is it telling us about how we are making life-impacting decisions based on very little evidence.

  • Posted by Scotland_is_flatlining May 10, 2020 at 12:14

    Stop medical and care home staff mixing in the community or trasnferring between multiple hospital / care home venues. You can't have this high risk group mixing with the remainder of the population.

    Enforce strict lockdown to require them to stay in hospital - away from public transport / out of shops etc.

  • Posted by jon98 May 11, 2020 at 13:45

    I think there should be more clarity as to where people are still picking up infection despite lockdown. This would perhaps offer more information as to why our R number is slightly higher than in other parts of the UK. Surely, as the FM wants to treat us like responsible adults, people should know this information?

  • Posted by Cathol May 11, 2020 at 17:21

    Yep, care homes and hospitals locked down but still transmission..

    Points to asymptomatic staff.

    Inappropriate or insufficient PPE.

  • Posted by Kgal May 11, 2020 at 21:41

    Also interested in this. I recently had suspected virus (no key workers in my household) - assume we caught it at the supermarket seeing as that's the only place we go. But to date there has been no interest in testing non-critical cases. I would also like to understand more about how the R number is estimated and how we can really do so when we are not testing in the wider community and only key workers/in hospital/care homes.
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