Hands, Face, Space - wrong way round

[PuzzledObserver]

In terms of reducing the risk of transmission:

• keeping physical space between you has the greatest effect,
• followed by mask-wearing
• then eye protection
• then handwashing.

That's according to the "Swiss cheese model", in which multiple interventions, each of which is inadequate on its own, adds up to really strong protection when used together.

I got this from an online calculator. Shame it doesn't include the effect of being outdoors versus indoors, or of having doors and windows open when indoors. Though that's a bit difficult at the moment.

www.omnicalculator.com/health/swiss-cheese-coronavirus

Yes, the message should be space-face-hands but it doesn't have a catchy ring.

The government has done appallingly at getting public health messages across and this really hasn't helped.

I think we all get it by now though? Dont we? Its been drummed into us for a year! I dont think the order they say it makes a big difference.

I don't think people have got it. Far more emphasis on washing hands than on ventilation.

I agree with you re ventilation and I agree re hand washing not being that important to stop covid spread.
However it matters a lot more for flu and they have said from the start that the biggest risk to the NHS would be a covid wave on top of the normal winter flu wave. And this year we seem to have avoided the flu wave so far, which I think is believed to be at least in part thanks to the emphasis on hand washing.
So I don’t think it’s been entirely a bad thing. Would just like to see more on ventilation which some people don’t seem to get at all!

The Swiss cheese model overemphasises masks but does not appear to mention ventilation?

The company I work for made a major upgrade to the ventilation system in the middle of the first wave. Since then we have not had a single case of transmission in the open space area where people sit 2 meters away from one another without wearing masks. It is chilly but it appears effective.

We have to wear masks when we move around the building. Two of my colleagues had a conversation in the corridor with low ceilings (outside of the well ventilated area). Both wore surgical masks. One (a pre-symptomatic individual) infected the other.

Whichever expert insisted covid was only transmitted by touch and was not airborne during spring last year needs to be held accountable.

Agree op. Good spot. Will you tell them or shall I ?

I have school mum friends who fret over cleaning everything anyone touches - but dont worry about chatting close outside.

Similalry worrying that desks arent cleaned often enough/kids arent washing hands enough rather than the glaring problem of a whole class in a non ventilated room....

When I took my mum for a test everyone was spaced out 2m in a hall. She said it was fine as we were all 2m apart....

@HeronLanyon

Agree op. Good spot. Will you tell them or shall I ?

We’ll just agree about it on social media, shall we? That’s how it usually works.

To be fair, there has been some stuff about ventilation in advertising, but still not enough IMO.