Working from home, masks in shops and sports: DR ELLIE CANNON answers your questions about coronavirus

Is it safer to continue working at home or should we return to work?

The short answer is that both are safe – but some think staying at home is preferable just in case.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Friday that from August 1, the government will no longer recommend that the British only work from home.

But earlier in the week, Chief Scientific Adviser’s comments, Sir Patrick Vallance, told MPs that there was “absolutely no reason” to change the current guidelines, stating that working from home was preferable.

Mr. Johnson has since said that he agrees with Sir Patrick’s position, but said it will be “a tough job for companies” to decide what employees should do. If workers are recalled to work, strict measures must be taken to ensure that it is safe. This means, among other things, that workers must be kept at least one meter apart at all times and that one-way systems must be set up and that regular cleaning is required.

Why is it necessary to wear a mask in a store, but not to take it with you?

As of Friday, wearing a mask or face covering in shops in England is mandatory. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £ 100. Children under 11, shop workers and those with certain health conditions are exempt.

Similar rules already apply in Scotland. However, many were surprised to learn, from the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson, that the rules do not apply when visiting a store to pick up or order takeaway food in England.

The full government directive on face masks and shops has not yet been published. However, people are still encouraged to wear masks in enclosed public areas where social distance is not possible – even if they are not required to. There is some evidence that wearing a face cover can prevent an infected person from passing it on to other people.

How close are we now to finding a vaccine?

Normally, it takes years, if not decades, to develop vaccines and they need to be thoroughly tested to make sure they are safe. However, some experts are hopeful that a vaccination for Covid can be found within the next 12 to 18 months.

According to the World Health Organization, 140 potential vaccines are in the early stages of development and 23 candidate vaccines are being tested on humans.

In the US, two studies by Pfizer and Moderna suggest that their vaccines produce a good immune response in humans.

Scientists at Oxford will report similar results next week. However, it is not clear whether these reported immune responses are strong enough to protect against Covid-19.

It’s also possible that the vaccines can stop symptoms, but not that people don’t pass the virus on to others.

The team behind the Oxford vaccine has warned that news of whether it works until the end of the year is unlikely.

What are the rules for playing and watching sports?

Corona virus restrictions are gradually being relaxed and more sport will be allowed soon. Currently, in England you can only exercise, with members of your household or with up to five other people from outside your household, as long as social distance is maintained and sports such as golf and tennis are allowed.

Outdoor gymnastics and outdoor pools can also be opened and from 25 July indoor gymnastics, swimming pools and leisure facilities in England will be added to this list. Ice rinks and bowling alleys can be opened from 1 August.

The government is starting to host large gatherings at venues, and if all goes well, spectators may return to English stadiums from October. Social distance must be taken into account and one-way systems and additional hygiene measures must be introduced.

In Wales, all outdoor sports facilities are now open, with the exception of gyms that are open on Mondays. You may only exercise with members of your household and with another person, unless it concerns an organized lesson or team sport. In Scotland, you can exercise outdoors with members of up to 15 people from four other households.

Indoor facilities remain closed, but outdoor sports fields can be opened. In Northern Ireland, the indoor gyms reopened on July 10 and last Friday sports resumed with a limited number of spectators. The number of allowed numbers will increase on July 31 and indoor sports will start again in early August.