Researchers have made many surprising discoveries since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in 2020. These are the areas in which our understanding has improved:How Covid spreadsHand sanitizer sales increased when Covid was first introduced to the UK. Boris Johnson stated that washing your hands is the best way to stop the spread of coronavirus.Because of the fact that Covid could be spread by people touching contaminated surfaces, and then touching their faces, this was part of the reason why emphasis was placed on it. Websites were created to warn you if you reach for your facial features. Many people also became concerned about how to disinfect parcels and groceries.Experts now believe that aerosols are a tiny virus-containing particle that is emitted when people infected breathe, talk, or cough. This makes it difficult to control the spread of Covid.According to Dr Julian Tang, a consultant at Leicester Royal Infirmary, aerosol transmission is more important than contact or hand transmission. He said that this has dramatically changed from the initial emphasis placed on hand washing.The World Health Organization has identified contaminated surfaces as a possible transmission route for fomite. However, evidence seems to be sparse. The WHO stated that despite consistent evidence of Sars-CoV-2 contamination of surfaces, and the persistence of the virus on some surfaces, there have been no direct reports of fomite transmission.Professor Julian Hiscox from the University of Liverpool is the chair in infection, global health and the Advisory Group on New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats (Nervtag). He said that while there has been increasing evidence that aerosols do matter, it is still possible for the virus to spread through direct contact with infected persons or surfaces where they have sneezed. Hand washing is therefore important.MasksExperts and politicians were dismissive of the idea that the public should have covered their faces at the outbreak of the pandemic.Grant Shapps, transport secretary, suggested that people make their own masks.Second, how people remove it can sometimes reinfect. It can give a false sense security.As evidence has accrued of their potential benefits, there is growing support for them. Scientists now believe they can catch viruses-containing particles and droplets from infected wearers. Some even claim they provide some protection against infection to healthy people. However, the effectiveness of these masks will depend on their fit and material.Hiscox stated that my view on mask wear has changed because they reduce aerosols. Although I confess that I used to think hand washing was more important that mask wearing at the beginning, I now believe that masks [well-fitting] do play an important role.The nature of the diseaseCovid was originally thought to be a respiratory infection. However, it has now become clear that Covid can also affect other organs, either directly or indirectly.Covid patients have been found to suffer from blood clots and brain inflammation, as well as delirium, stroke, abnormal heart rhythms, liver and kidney damage, according to researchers.Long Covid is a term that describes a condition where symptoms can persist for several months after an initial infection. Although fatigue and brain fog are common symptoms, a study published last month found that long Covid could also cause more than 200 symptoms. Experts have said that long Covid may be a generic term that covers many syndromes. Also, it appears that women are more susceptible to being affected than men.Chris Brightling, a Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Leicester, spoke at the Lords science & technology committee in September. He said that scans taken as part of both the C-MORE and Phosp-Covid studies revealed the larger physiological impact of Covid-19.These individuals are showing signs of end-organ damage in their kidneys, liver, lungs, heart and brain. He said that this is happening to more than a third of patients at the two month mark. There are many signs that a disease that started as a respiratory infection is spreading to multiple organs.Spreaders with symptomsCovid spread has been made more difficult by the recognition of the importance of asymptomatic infections. Although estimates are not consistent, the UK government says that about one third of people with Covid don't develop symptoms.Although rapid lateral flow tests were free and available in April to detect such infections, experts have questioned their accuracy and lack of support for self-isolating patients. But, earlier during the pandemic, only PCR testing was possible, things were very different.According to Tang, the UK's decision to discontinue all community testing because of insufficient resources/poor preparation, and to not test mild/asymptomatic conditions likely contributed to the uncontrolled surge in community cases in the initial wave.
