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Interactive COVID-19 risk tool

A new interactive graphic developed by UK researchers will help people decide what to do in everyday situations to protect themselves, and others, from COVID-19.

Based on estimates provided by 26 international experts, the graphic shows the different pathways that may be taken by the virus that causes COVID-19 when it transfers between two people. It is designed to help illustrate the risks of catching COVID-19 in different scenarios – and what can be done to reduce those risks – based on the available evidence.

As well as the areas of scientific consensus, it also conveys the uncertainties and the disagreement that exists between experts about how the virus behaves, how it is transmitted, and how we can best reduce the likelihood of transmission.

The researchers say the tool should support decision-makers and the public to make informed decisions about how to reduce virus transmission in different contexts, such as how to make a workplace or a public area as safe as it can be while still being open and functional.

To create the tool, the researchers consulted 26 experts from a range of disciplines and countries, asking them for every value needed to underpin the graphic. These included the importance of different virus transmission routes (e.g. small and large airborne droplets, contact with contaminated surfaces) during a range of activities (e.g. talking, coughing, exercising, eating) in different environments (e.g. outdoors or indoors in different-sized rooms, with or without ventilation).

They also gathered estimates on the importance of different protective measures (e.g. face coverings and screens, physical distancing, hand hygiene, surface cleaning) in reducing transmission.

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Image credit | iStock

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