With lockdown measures easing, there are plenty of new opportunities for "R" to increase. As the weather improves and children and teachers head back to school, more people will come into contact with one another. The risk of new COVID hotspots emerging is also likely to increase without adequate monitoring.
I have been checking in every day with the COVID-19 Symptom Study app developed by health science company ZOE and it is endorsed by the Welsh Government, NHS Wales, the Scottish Government and NHS ScSc covid symptom appotland. Some 3,739,910 participants have downloaded the app and are using it to regularly report on their health, making it the largest public science project of its kind anywhere in the world.
App data is being analysed in collaboration with King's College London researchers.
This app is a crucial early detection tool to understand if there is a risk of a second wave of the virus and to help detect new COVID hotspots earlier. You can help protect your community as lockdown lifts by by downloading the app and reporting for yourself and behalf of your children to stop the spread of new infections quicker.
To help make your community safer, share the app with schools, parent's associations, and other organisations. The more of us there are using the app daily, the more accurately and quickly ZOE will be able to identify potential hotspots.
Helping children
Your child may be feeling worried or concerned about the things that they see, hear, or read regarding coronavirus. As they return to school, they will be exposed to information and opinions shared by their peers and teachers. As a parent or caregiver, it’s important to reassure them that you are there to listen to them when they feel scared or unsure about the things that they’re hearing. You don’t need to have all the answers, but just knowing that it is safe to talk to you about their concerns can help them feel calm.
If you aren't quite sure where to start, check out this resource:
Talking to your child about coronavirus (Young Minds)
Although children can be infected with the coronavirus, evidence suggests that most present with mild symptoms or are asymptomatic Encouraging regular, thorough hand washing is a very effective way to protect your children against infection
Testing your child’s sense of smell may help you to identify signs of COVID-19 infection early
Encouraging outdoor play and learning at school may be a valuable way of minimising infection risk
Report your child’s health status on their behalf using the COVID Symptom Study app. This will help us better understand how the virus affects kids and identify potential COVID-19 hotspots as they return to school.
App data is being analysed in collaboration with King's College London researchers.