COVID RISK: IS IT SAFE FOR ME TO RESUME ALL MY NORMAL ACTIVITIES?

In a restriction-free world, how risky is going to the pub vs going to the supermarket?

- PROF TRISH GREENHALGH

WILL VACCINES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PROTECTION?

The latest strain (Omicron) is said to cause 'mild' COVID, but a big reason for this is that vaccines - in those who received a course and mounted a normal immune response – have blunted its deadly impact.

Omicron is probably more deadly than the original wild-type variant, but the population is now better protected Importantly, being vaccinated doesn't stop you catching and spreading COVID; it just reduces the severity of illness in most people. As we've let our guard down, case rates have skyrocketed. A disease with a low mortality rate affecting several million people will kill more people than a disease with a higher mortality rate that only affects a few thousand.

People with compromised immune systems (for example, anyone with a transplant, on chemotherapy, or taking steroids), and those who remain unvaccinated for any reason, are still at risk of severe disease and a possible fatal outcome. Hence, while vaccination is important, it's only our first line of defence.

HOW DO DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AFFECT THE SPREAD OF COVID?