Covid lockdowns are cost of self-isolation failures, says WHO expert

[Northerner]

Lockdowns affecting entire populations is a price countries pay for failing to ensure people with coronavirus and their contacts self-isolate, according to an expert from the World Health Organization.

The WHO does not recommend that countries enter lockdowns. It has consistently said that the key to controlling epidemics, whether Covid-19, Sars or flu, is to test people, trace their contacts and ensure all those who are positive or who have been close to those infected are quarantined.

While countries like the UK have been massively increasing the numbers of tests carried out, contact tracing has fallen short, and studies have shown that as few as 20% of people in England fully comply with self-isolation.

“For me, the big missing link in what’s going on in many European countries is management of isolation,” said Dr Margaret Harris of the WHO. “That’s not just isolation of people who are sick – it’s isolation of people who have contacts and are first-degree contacts.

Covid lockdowns are cost of self-isolation failures, says WHO expert

Dr Margaret Harris said ‘high price’ of lockdowns must buy time to improve test and trace

www.theguardian.com

 

[grovesy]

I do love Dr. Margaret Harris, I think she is an excellent communicator, and very down to earth. Never gets poltical even though many commentator's try to get her to be when interviewed.

 

[Northerner]

I do love Dr. Margaret Harris, I think she is an excellent communicator, and very down to earth. Never gets poltical even though many commentator's try to get her to be when interviewed.

Agreed 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

The WHO does not recommend that countries enter lockdowns. It has consistently said that the key to controlling epidemics, whether Covid-19, Sars or flu, is to test people, trace their contacts and ensure all those who are positive or who have been close to those infected are quarantined.

Simple but very controversial would be to tag people so they have no choice but to stay home. Anyone breaking the self isolation, just remove them from society for the 14 days IE., isolation compound with just basic provisions (food water and a toothbrush)

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Simple but very controversial would be to tag people so they have no choice but to stay home. Anyone breaking the self isolation, just remove them from society for the 14 days IE., isolation compound with just basic provisions (food water and a toothbrush)

Sounds like an insanely expensive way to do it (if you actually want to enforce that effectively).

Much cheaper to offer generous support to those you'd like to isolate. That way you have at least the chance of cooperation. And if you find you need more cooperation, you can improve your offer of support. (And sure, there'll be some fraud. I think we shouldn't worry too much about that. We're apparently not too bothered about millions paid over the odds to Conservative-connected PPE companies.)

 

[mikeyB]

Simple but very controversial would be to tag people so they have no choice but to stay home. Anyone breaking the self isolation, just remove them from society for the 14 days IE., isolation compound with just basic provisions (food water and a toothbrush)

Given the record of companies such as G4S with criminal tagging, I would suggest that's a non starter. And as that would effectively be house imprisonment, it would be illegal without a crime having been committed. Time spent on a Tag is set against time in prison if such a sentence is later imposed.

And all that is before the thought of punishment in a concentration camp. Controversial? No, wholly illegal and over the top.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

No, wholly illegal and over the top.

Worse, I think it wouldn't be an efficient way to spend the money. I'm all for costing it up, but then compare an alternative where you offer that money (or most of it) to the people you want to isolate. I'm guessing the second would work much better.