Everyday Covid mistakes we are all still making

Could we be doing more as individuals to curb transmission of the virus? A virologist, a psychologist and a public health expert share their views on some of the Covid-19 mistakes that we are all still making.

Focusing on what’s allowed, rather than what’s safe

Even though we’re in lockdown, there’s more scope for social contact than the first time around: for example, you can meet a friend for exercise; have cleaners, childminders, or tradespeople in your home. Such allowances are important for mental health and the economy, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely safe.

Trusting friends who say ‘I’ve been careful’

Beware the friend or tradesperson who reassures you that they’ve respected all the rules, and that the cough they just did was a one-off. One study of 551 American adults found that a quarter of them had lied about their social or physical distancing practices, and among those who had contracted Covid-19, 34% reported having denied having symptoms when asked by others.

Failing to appreciate what ‘airborne’ really means

If you can smell someone’s garlic or alcohol breath, or cigarette smoke, you’re inhaling air carrying not just the smell of the garlic, alcohol or smoke, but any virus that’s leaving their nose or mouth if they’re infected.

Believing precautions have to be ‘all or nothing’

Increasingly, it seems that the amount of virus you breathe in can make a difference to the severity of your illness, should an infection take root. This means that even imperfect adherence to preventive measures is likely to be better than nothing.

Assuming anything outdoors is safe

Chatting to people outdoors carries a fraction of the risk of any indoor interaction, but it is not entirely risk-free. If you’re stood next to someone for long periods outdoors, eg while queueing for a bus – particularly if you’re stood next to a wall or under a shelter – then gradually any virus they’re exhaling could accumulate in your lungs.

Inadequate face-covering

The mantra ‘hands, face, space,’ is really the wrong way around. All are important for preventing virus transmission, but physical distancing – including preventing small and large-scale gatherings – has the greatest impact.

Believing being vaccinated means you can relax

There’s uncertainty about how much protection people will have until they’ve received a second dose and this has had time to take effect. It’s also still unclear the degree to which being vaccinated prevents you from transmitting the virus to other people.

Thinking you won’t get Covid twice

Reinfections among people who were hospitalised with Covid-19 appear to be rare, but they do happen. Less is known about whether you can be reinfected if you experienced a milder infection the first time around, because most of these people were not tested during the pandemic’s early days. Also unclear is whether people who have previously been infected can pick up the virus and transmit it to others, without showing symptoms themselves.