Covid-19 Infection Rates

Infection rates

Currently thinking is that each infected person infects between 1.4 and 2.5 other people. (WHO, 4 April 2020).

The infection rates are for people who have been tested and found to be infected.

This figure does not include those who have had mild symptoms but not been tested.

The only way to find the real infection rate is to mass test to identify people with Covid-19 antibodies (produced by the body's immune system when it fights off the infection). 

[Work is currently in progress to create a reliable test kit and produce it in sufficient numbers to carry out mass testing.]

How you get immunity - a simple explanation (Zania Stamataki in The Guardian, 10 April 2020)

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How Covid-19 Spreads

How Covid-19 spreads (transmission)
The virus typically spreads during close contact when people cough or sneeze. It may also occur during conversation over a period of time in close contact. The virus attaches to water molecules in breath, sneezes and coughs. As these are heavy molecules they drop to the ground fairly quickly, so social distancing (maintaining a physical distance of 6 ft or 1.8 metres from others) helps reduce transmission.

Feb. 2021: researchers have found that coughing produces ten times more infectious 'aerosol' particles compared to sneezing or breathing. It is thought that this may explain why healthcare workers are four times more likely to contract the virus than the general population. There are now calls for them to be given higher grade PPE and for hospital ventilation to be improved. Infection rates for general hospital staff are almost double that of staff in intensive care units who have access to full PPE.

• Follow link to see: Here's what 6ft looks like (BBC News).

It may also spread when someone touches a contaminated surface (contagion) and then their face. Research has found that the virus can live on some surfaces for up to 72 hours in laboratory conditions with stable temperatures, humidity and in the dark; these conditions do not reflect real life fluctuating temperatures and humidity and sunlight.

• The risk from books with paper or cardboard covers is negligible after 24 hours.
• The risk from books in plastic covers is negligible after 72 hours.

It is most contagious when people have symptoms, but spread is also possible before symptoms appear.

Recommended ways of preventing infection include frequent hand washing, social distancing, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or inner elbow, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face.

An infection rate (R) of more than 1 means cases of the disease are increasing, while a rate of below R1 indicates that it is under control (the UK rate was R0.7 on 30 April.) The challenge is keeping it at this level while relaxing social distancing and isolation.

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Covid-19 symptoms

Covid-19 symptoms

• Common symptoms: fever, cough and shortness of breath.
• Mild symptoms can appear to be a common cold (especially with the Delta variant).
• Some people report taste and smell is affected.
• Other symptoms occur as the virus moves around the body and internal organs.

In most cases (80%) there are mild symptoms (which typically recover in two weeks) or even no symptoms. Mild symptoms can appear to be a common cold, and some people report taste and smell is affected. A small study in China suggests those with mild symptoms have fewer virus particles in their bodies. June 2021: The most common symptoms of the Delta variant are headache, sore throat and runny nose.

It can be anything from 2 days to 14 days between exposure and showing symptoms but is typically 5 to 6 days.

Common symptoms: fever, cough and shortness of breath and loss of sense of taste and smell. These led to an initial diagnosis of a respiratory infection. Once it was identified that the virus attaches to the ACE-2 enzyme (part of our immune system and present in many body tissues and organs) it made more sense that other symptoms are also reported. In many cases people are discharged from hospital but continue to have intermittent bouts of symptoms. There is no clear link between severity of initial infection and likelihood of post infections problems.

These other symptoms lead scientists to theorize that (a) there may be sub-types of the virus - possibly linked to the body organ affected and (b) identifying these may help in predicting which cases may become serious, and potentially the most effective treatment. The following symptoms have been reported with the virus, and may occur after discharge from hospital.

• Pain: chest pain, severe muscle pain, numbness.
• Neurological problems: tingling finger tips, brain fog, dizziness, seizures, hallucinations.
• Skin problems: small blisters on mouth or on torso, a reddish-purple rash, and chilblain-like lesions on toes 
• Gastrointestinal problems: bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite (possibly linked to loss of taste and smell).
• Cardiovascular problems: after discharge from hospital some people later develop deep vein thrombosis, blood clots on the lung. Some relatively young and healthy people are having heart attacks or strokes with unusual features. 
• Extreme fatigue: may be linked to vascular symptoms such as blood clots - micro-clots in lungs could reduce oxygen supply to body, with the possibility of pneumonia infection.

Another problem that has emerged is that for some people the symptoms improve, and then return.

How you get immunity - a simple explanation (Zania Stamataki in The Guardian, 10 April 2020)

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Eco Skin Care and Beauty Products

How to recycle beauty products responsibly

• Good Housekeeping online: How to recycle beauty products.

If you are trying to be responsible about your skin care and beauty products, they can be difficult to find and new ones are now coming on to the market. I'll add to this list as I come across new ones (I'll add the date I come across each item), but I'm not promoting any of them.

Soaps and Cleansers

• Lush: Minimal packaging (from paper, cardboard and potato starch). (2020)
• Faith in Nature: Plastic packaging is 100% recycled and recyclable. Refill stations in independent health food stores. The most popular products come in 5L containers. (2020)
• Soap Co.: Soaps, bath potions and body care made using renewable energy. Employs a largely blind, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged workforce (guide dogs welcomed). Uses bee-friendly botanicals. Packaging is wool, compostable biofilm and non-toxic glue. (2020)
• Soaper Duper: Washes, scrubs and moisturisers. All of the tubs, tubes or bottles can go into recycling bin (no metal spring in the pumps). Company donates to Water Aid. (2020)
• We Are Paradoxx: Favours aluminium packaging which is endlessly recyclable and doesn't release toxins when broken down. Ingredients often locally sourced; formulas multi-purpose and potent so you use less. Donates 1% of profits to For The Planet. (2020)
• Medik8: Skincare products. Glass bottles are 40% recycled (they aim to increase the %). Packaging inserts are recycled card. Buildings run on renewable energy. Medik8's own charity, the Zipper Foundation, donates a minimum of £15,000 to animal welfare each year. (2020)
• Neal's Yard Remedies: Body, face and bath products. Has lobbied against Bee-harming insecticides and microbeads. In 2020 launched Project Frankincense, a tree-planting campaign to protect the endangered Boswellia sacra tree. (2020)
• Byre: An estimated 87,000 tons of whey is wasted every year by the dairy industry. Byre combines powdered whey with other natural ingredients to produce its body washes. A donation from sales goes to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, which helps farm workers facing difficulties. (2020)
• Dr Craft: Their purple shampoo avoids the use of synthetics pigments by using anthocyanins from blackcurrants skins from food industry waste (e.g. Ribena manufacturing). (2020)
• Plastic Freedom: All beauty and household products are plastic-free. Packaging is cardboard and the company plants a tree for every order received by donating to One Tree Planted. (2020)
• Organic Apoteke: Skincare formulations that are free of emulsifiers. All the packaging is recyclable. (2020) 
• Haekels: Based in Margate, has zero waste aims. The handmade range uses locally harvested marine botanicals. Projects include a bartering day when customers exchanged their own items for products, and upcycling Christmas trees into scented candles. (2020)
• Biossance: Lightweight, hydrating and soothing skincare. All the packaging - except the pumps and bottle interiors - is fully recyclable. (2020)
• Bramley: Ingredients are natural, biodegradeable and grown in the UK. Plastic is made using sugarcane instead of fossil fuel. Glass bottles are available, and 5L bottles to refill from at home. (2020)
• Ren: Skin, body and bath products. Plans to be zero waste by 2021 by making every component of every tube, pot or bottle recyclable, compostable or reuseable. Is working with Terracycle's  new project Loop, which will collect specially made glass bottles from your door, for you to reuse, recycle or refill and return. (2020)
• The Body Shop: Recycling bins in stores are part of the aim to collect and recycle 25% more packaging than it sells. Bottles are 75% recycled plastic (a small quantity of virgin plastic (ideally not from fossil fuels) keeps the bottles going for longer. (2020)

• Face Halo: the Modern Makeup Remover (wipes). Just add water and wipe - no cleanser required. Removes all make-up, including eye make-up. You can machine wash the wipe around 200 times. (2019)
• Simple Kind to Skin Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes. The first mass-market, biodegradable make-up wipes. Made from sustainable wood pulp so will home compost in 42 days, but are still powerful enough to take off waterproof mascara without alcohol or harsh cleansing agents. (2109)

Beauty

• Dr Lipp Tint. Hint-of-a-tint lip balms that are good for everyday moisture and shine. Each has only four ingredients, one of which is a vegetable pigment (e,g, elderberry, sweet potato, radish) to give a natural looking colour. (2019)
• Axiology: Lipsticks and crayons are made from plant-based butters, oils and pigments, in recyclable casings, and packaged in cardboard sleeves made from recycled paper waste in Bali. Other products in development.
• Tropic: Refillable make-up palettes. Double-offsetting carbon emissions helps conservation projects in the Amazon and it funds one day's worth of school education in Cambodia, Nepal and Myanmar for every £50 in sales. (Also has skincare, haircare, bath and bodycare products.) (2020)
• Kevin.Murphy: Haircare brand aims to remove plastic by switching all products to 100% ocean waste plastic. (2020)

Fragrance

• Clean Reserve: A vegan fragrance brand sources ingredients from companies that pay Fairtrade prices and support the environment and local communities. Packaging includes compostable cellophane, water-based inks and sustainably sourced wood. (2020)

Good Housekeeping online: How to recycle beauty products.

Source: Features in Good Housekeeping, February 2019 and April 2020

Detergents - What Works Best?

Biological detergents have enzymes that boost cleaning power. Best for stain removal but not suitable for frequent use on silk or wool.

Non-biological detergents does not contain enzymes and is thought to be kinder to sensitive skin.

Powder detergents tend to be best at stain removal and are the cheapest.

Liquids are more expensive but handy to pre-treat stains.

Capsules are convenient but cost more and occasionally don't dissolve.

White cottons gone grey?
Rewash using maximum dose of detergent on the highest temperature recommended on the label. If that does not help, soak in a bleach solution and rinse through.

Source: Feature in Good Housekeeping, February 2019