How to stay COVID safe as Melbourne’s restrictions ease
While Melburnians celebrate the most freedom they’ve had in months, epidemiologists warn some behaviours are riskier than others in spreading coronavirus. Here’s the best and worst activities and how to stay safe.
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While Melburnians celebrate the most freedom they’ve had in months, epidemiologists warn of the social activities more likely to spread coronavirus.
Visiting a nightclub, hugging and hand shaking and indoor parties are among the riskiest behaviours outlined by data collection website Information is Beautiful.
Outdoor bars, large crowds at sport stadiums and attending church where singing was allowed also carried higher risks.
La Trobe University Associate Professor of Epidemiology Hassan Vally said behaviours such as night clubbing or indoor parties were considered risky as they involved crowds of people, close together, over a period of time.
“The riskiest activities would be ones that involve a lot of people crammed close together indoors — like having an indoor party where there’s lots of people that can’t socially distance,” he said.
“This virus’ goal in life is to move from one person to the next and to spread as far and wide as it can. It’s the kind of thing that increases your risk, if you’re in close physical contact with another person for a long period of time.”
Assoc Prof Vally said while it was easy to categorise low and high risk activities, everyone should use critical thinking when getting back into the world.
“We need to realise the world is not the same as it was,” Assoc Prof Vally said.
“That’ll be the challenge for us going into the next period and we need to take those opportunities to reduce risk where we can.”
“Just because we are allowed to have people to our homes, doesn’t mean we should have two different people to your home each day, seven days a week. That’s a lot of exposure.”
Deakin University Epidemiology Chair Professor Catherine Bennett said while regulation protected us from high risk activities, such as clubbing or attending sporting events, we should still use common sense when venturing out.
“Consider your personal rules in each setting — indoors and common areas are high risk, so take your hand pump and sanitise regularly,” she said.
Professor Bennett advised against car pooling with people outside your house for now, and suggested taking it easing with indoor dinner parties over the next two weeks.
“Just think twice about who you’re mixing with in the next couple of weeks. The risk is low, but now we’re in the last stages of the second wave and the virus is more likely to be in people without symptoms.”
“We’re kind of in a holding pattern until there’s a vaccine, to keep risk the suppressed, rather than living in fear of the virus — which is a good feeling.”
Assoc Prof Vally said people should continue to practise good hygiene habits as restrictions eased.
“It’s all about social distancing, washing your hands and wearing a mask — that’s part of this COVID world and what we have to do. Keep being diligent about these activities that reduce our risk,” he said.
“We’re moving into a situation where we have earnt the right to make our own rules but that comes with responsibility.”
“Let’s enjoy our freedom and spend time with people, but keep conscious of the fact that we need to do our bit.”
SOURCE: INFORMATION IS BEAUTIFUL.
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