Northerner
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This week, the government announced plans to give those living in England the opportunity to be tested twice a week in a bid to ease the country out of lockdown. Increased testing is a vital tool, but it is only effective if it is part of a wider system aimed at identifying who is infected, their contacts, and getting people to self-isolate. The last step is the crucial one, since that is the way you stop the transmission of infection. So far, this has proved to be the trickiest part.
Whereas all the evidence points to the fact most people are by and large adhering to the things that are relatively straightforward – cleaning hands, wearing masks, spatially distancing – it is a very different story when it comes to asking people to stay at home with no contact with others.
According to the Covid-19 Rapid Survey of Adherence to Interventions and Responses (Corsair) study, only 52% have self-isolated when required. However, data produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that between 1 and 13 February this year self-isolation rates were 86%, and in the period 1 to 9 March they had risen still further to 90%. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, enthused: “I am delighted that today’s statistics show the vast majority of people in this country are doing the right thing and following the rules to help protect the NHS and save lives.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/05/covid-debt-desperation-struggling-hull-gipsyville
Why such a huge discrepancy between Corsair and ONS? Who was right and who was wrong? On closer inspection the answer turns out that both were right, but they were looking at very different groups of people. The ONS approached people who have had a test and provided contacts. Those already in the system, and who adhere to that extent, are very likely to take the final step and self-isolate.
www.theguardian.com
This has been staring the government in the face all the way through the past year, yet they refuse to even acknowledge it
Whereas all the evidence points to the fact most people are by and large adhering to the things that are relatively straightforward – cleaning hands, wearing masks, spatially distancing – it is a very different story when it comes to asking people to stay at home with no contact with others.
According to the Covid-19 Rapid Survey of Adherence to Interventions and Responses (Corsair) study, only 52% have self-isolated when required. However, data produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that between 1 and 13 February this year self-isolation rates were 86%, and in the period 1 to 9 March they had risen still further to 90%. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, enthused: “I am delighted that today’s statistics show the vast majority of people in this country are doing the right thing and following the rules to help protect the NHS and save lives.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/05/covid-debt-desperation-struggling-hull-gipsyville
Why such a huge discrepancy between Corsair and ONS? Who was right and who was wrong? On closer inspection the answer turns out that both were right, but they were looking at very different groups of people. The ONS approached people who have had a test and provided contacts. Those already in the system, and who adhere to that extent, are very likely to take the final step and self-isolate.
Offering twice-weekly Covid tests is futile without proper support for self-isolators | Stephen Reicher
Without sufficient self-isolation remuneration, workers in England will avoid taking any tests, undermining current efforts, says Sage committee member Stephen Reicher
www.theguardian.com
This has been staring the government in the face all the way through the past year, yet they refuse to even acknowledge it
