Coronavirus. What are the risks? Should I be working?

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak spreads across Staffordshire, and

Government advice is to stay at home and away from others, there are many
questions running through our minds, both in our personal and professional lives.
It’s handy then that we have a whole team
of Public Health experts at our disposal.
Mike Calverley, Health Protection and
EPR Lead (left) and Chris Stanley,
Commissioning Officer, Public Health
(right) have prepared this briefing note to
help bust some common myths and offer
you some reassurance about working in
public services during the outbreak.

What is social distancing all about?

Let’s start with what sounds like a scary thought. Most of us are going to catch
COVID-19 at some point over the next year or so. Don’t panic! Most cases will be
mild – in fact you may not even know you’ve had it.
The World Health Organisation (and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and
Prevention) have concluded that around 80% of COVID cases are and will be mild.
It can be really frightening when you hear the news and read the papers about the
rates of death from the infection. The trouble is these rates are not a true reflection of
what’s happening.
The death rate in confirmed cases is not the overall death rate. It is almost certainly
an overestimate. Most cases of the virus won’t be counted because some people will
not even have any symptoms or because their symptoms are so mild, they don’t
need extra medical treatment.
Experts believe that the real chances of dying from a coronavirus infection are
probably between 0.5% and 1%. That’s still serious, but the biggest problem with
COVID-19 is not how dangerous it is, the biggest problem is that we don’t want too
many people to get it at the same time.
If our healthcare system gets swamped with cases (at the same time that staff are
missing because of illness or isolation), then intensive care units won’t be able to
treat people who really need them, and then the death rate really would go up.
That’s why we’re all practicing the social distancing measures that Government have
set out.
It’s not to stop us getting COVID-19 altogether, it’s to slow the speed of the spread.

1
It’s not about everything stopping. It’s about reducing the normal amount of
unnecessary social interaction. It still allows us to interact to provide essential
services for people in our communities.

So, we need to avoid unnecessary social interaction, does this

mean I shouldn’t come into my normal place of work?
Public Health England and Chris Witty, the country’s Chief Medical Officer, are
urging people to stay at home unless absolutely necessary for food, medicine, work
or exercise.
This is particularly important for those colleagues who are over 70, have pre-existing
health conditions or are pregnant. Arrangements will have already been made for
these colleagues to stay at home and work where it’s possible to do so from home.
Those of us who are fit and well can continue to help our communities and to keep
essential services running, whether this is in our normal role or by volunteering for
other roles.
The work of the county council is absolutely necessary.
Some of us can contribute from home. Some of us will need to go to a place of work.
Some of us will be caring for people directly.
By following the social distancing and handwashing advice in the workplace, and
using the right Personal Protective Equipment where it is needed, the risk to your
health is low.
You can read the Government’s official guidance on continuing to work here.

2
How do you catch Coronavirus?
The main way you can catch the COVID-19 is from person-to-person, by being in
close contact (within about two metres) of someone who has the virus.
The virus is likely to be in the droplets produced when an infected person coughs or
sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby
or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Can someone spread the virus without being sick?

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the
sickest). This is why you are being told to stay at home, even if you have mild
symptoms.
Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; and there have been
reports of this occurring, but it is not the main way the virus spreads.
Similarly, it may be possible to catch COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that
has the virus on it and then touching your own mouth, nose, or your eyes, but it is
not the main way the virus spreads.
By following the social distancing and handwashing advice in the workplace, and
using the right Personal Protective Equipment where it is needed, the risk to your
health is low.

We’ve been told not to go outside, does that mean I can catch
Coronavirus just by going out?
The reason that some parks and other outdoor areas have closed, is not because
you are likely to catch Coronavirus in the open air, it’s because people were still
grouping close together when they went outside.
As long as you keep two metres (about 6 feet) away from others when you go out,
the risk is very low.

Does the new Coronavirus affect older people? Am I more likely to

catch it if I go out to care for them?
People of all ages can be infected by COVID-19.
Older people (those over 70), and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such
as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming
severely ill with the virus.
This does not mean an older person is more likely to catch it (or to spread it), it just
means that they are likely to suffer a more severe reaction to it if they do catch it.
The people you may be caring for are at a high level of isolation and have been for
over a week now. If both you and they are following social distancing rules, then the
chance of either of you catching it from each other is low.

3
Public Health England (PHE) recommends the below for a carer visiting a person
who doesn’t have any symptoms:
• Follow PHE guidelines including, where possible, maintaining a 2-metre
distance from others, and washing hands with soap and water often for at
least 20 seconds (or using hand sanitiser gel if soap and water is not
available)
• No personal protective equipment is required above and beyond normal good
hygiene practices
• General interventions may include increased cleaning activity to reduce risk of
retention of the virus on hard surfaces, and keeping property properly
ventilated by opening windows whenever safe and appropriate.