Coronavirus: Kent is hotspot for Covid-19 cases in the over-60s – how to protect yourself
Coronavirus vaccine distribution is ‘chaos’ says professor
Public Health England put together a report on November 26 outlining the weekly number of COVID-19 cases in those aged 60 or above. If you find you’re in an area with high infection rates, how can you protect yourself?
As of November 29 (before lockdown lifted on Wednesday, December 2), Boston, in Lincolnshire, had the highest number of coronavirus cases among the over-60s.
This was followed by: Medway and Swale, in Kent; Lincoln; and Gravesham (also in Kent).
In fact, the county of Kent contained the most areas where people over the age of 60 had been infected by the virus.
The areas with the highest cases per 100,000 people in the over-60 population (by November 29) – in descending order – continued as follows:
- Thanet, Kent
- Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
- Rochdale, Greater Manchester
- West Lindsey, Lincolnshire
- East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
- Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire
- Dudley, Worcestershire
- Sandwell, West Midlands
- Newham, London
- Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- Maidstone, Kent
- Stafford, Staffordshire
- Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
- South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear
- Darlington, Durham
The current tiers are put in place to help stop the spread of the virus.
There are things you can do to minimise transmission and to protect yourself, your family and loved ones.
Harvard Medical School enlisted preventative measures, such as washing your hands with soap regularly and social distancing.
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Washing your hands
In order for hand washing to be effective, it needs to be done with soap for “at least 20 seconds”.
According to Harvard Medical School, hand washing applies to the following situations:
- After going to the bathroom
- Before eating
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- After handling anything that’s come from outside your home
If soap and water isn’t available (for example, you’re walking on the street), then use a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
On top of those, try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth – you may do this more than you realise.
Avoid close contact with anybody who is sick, and stay at home if you’re feeling under the weather.
When you use a tissue to cover your cough or sneeze, throw the used tissue in the bin immediately.
It’s advised to “clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces every day”; examples include:
- Tabletops
- Doorknobs
- Bathroom fixtures
- Toilets
- Phones
- Keyboards
- Tablets
- Bedside tables
Following these action “will help to prevent the spread of COVID-19” said Harvard Medical School.
SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease COVID-19) can remain on uncleaned surfaces.
During the festive season, if you’re in a tier that has opened up shopping facilities, it’s wise to take extra safety precautions.
For example, if you hold onto escalator handrails then make sure to sanitise your hands afterwards.
If an infected person – who may or may not have symptoms – touches the escalator handrail, then the virus can spread to others.
To illustrate, another person could touch the escalator handrail, which has the invisible-to-the-eye coronavirus.
If that person then proceeds to rub their eye, touch their nose or mouth, they are then infected with the virus too.
When it comes to shopping in the supermarket, it’s advised to wipe down the trolley or basket handles with disinfectant wipes.
“Slowing down the rate and number of new coronavirus infections is critical to reduce the risk that critically ill patients can’t receive life-saving care,” said Harvard Medical School.
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