Covid infection levels in England have fallen this week to amongst the lowest levels recorded in the last 2 years. However, please don’t be lulled into a false sense of security: the risk of meeting a Covid-infected person in England has not entirely gone away. 1 in every 330 people were still infected as of 19 January. Influenza infections are now steeply declining from their peak, but absolute levels still remain high.
As a statistical example of the current risk of catching Covid, a typical busy supermarket will have 1 infected person breathing out virus on nearly every visit. A typical full single decker bus will have an infected person breathing out virus every 4 or 5 journeys. There will be an infected person breathing out virus in every other busy train carriage. If you work in a large, air-conditioned office or warehouse/factory without air purification, there will be 1 or 2 infected people.
Although Covid infection levels in England are currently lower, this cannot last. There have been many periods of lower infection levels in the past, and they have all been followed by a rise or severe peak. Because there is no such thing as lasting or ‘herd’ immunity to a fast-evolving coronavirus like Covid-19, repeated waves of infection are inevitable unless we clean the air that people breathe.
There are three ways to breathe clean air. The first is to breathe fresh outdoor air which does not contain enough virus to infect someone. This can be achieved by either being outdoors, or bringing fresh outdoor air into indoor spaces by excellent ventilation. The second is to clean or purify indoor air by using a HEPA filter or UV purifier. These devices remove viruses from the air that people breathe. The third way to breathe clean air is to wear a protective respiratory mask as personal protective equipment (PPE). A well-fitted respiratory mask, rated FFP2 or FFP3, removes viruses from the air passing through the mask, so that what you breathe is clean.
BuDS wants to see clean air legislation which protects everyone by requiring clean air in all public buildings. This should be no more controversial than the way we all expect clean water in our taps. If you’d like to learn more about BuDS’ vision for a Covid-free future, use this link. https://buds.org.uk/our-vision-for-a-low-covid-world/
This is BuDS’ 211th Covid risk assessment since the beginning of the pandemic, and we are now the only organisation publishing free risk data for disabled and clinically vulnerable people.
Covid and flu vaccinations can no longer be booked online, but you may be able to get a free NHS vaccination through your GP. We strongly recommend that everyone, but particularly disabled and clinically vulnerable people, seek a vaccination. Covid and flu vaccinations are also available privately online and through larger pharmacies. 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.
Some ministerial letters have recently come to light where the Minister for Public Health, Andrew Gwynne MP, says that Covid is not primarily spread in the air. This is categorically false: Covid and flu 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.
Astonishingly, there are no Covid or respiratory virus precautions in NHS buildings, and so they are extremely dangerous places to catch Covid and influenza. NHS staff are also required to work even if they have Covid. Unless your visit is essential, we recommend that you avoid hospitals and GP practices, and wear a tight-fitted filter mask (FFP2 or FFP3) or respirator all the time if you have to go there.
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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.