Yes, the answer is in contact tracing and isolation and as has been shown in countries that are good at it, the hot spots follow a distinct pattern being volumes of people in close proximity in confined spaces - night clubs, religious gatherings, migrant worker dormitories, close knit multi-generational communities as examples, in addition to the obvious health care settings. While it is more infectious than Aids and the transmission is different, its effects for the majority of the population are less severe than flu viruses. For those who are more severely affected, the elderly, those with existing conditions, probably those from some ethnic backgrounds, the strategy is to avoid being in a position where you can get infected. Some, like me who are active and in control of our own actions do this by following simple rules. Others, such as those who work in certain environments, or are of necessity in a vulnerable setting like a care home or hospital do not have the same choice. The result is what we see daily in the figures.
The challenge for our leaders is to propose policies that recognise these differences in risks and consequences. As we see from the current debate over opening schools (a low risk and low consequence move) they are hit with a wall of unfounded fear for which they are partly to blame because of their own campaign to make this "everybody's" disease.
Thankfully, recreational sailing is in the very low risk and consequence category of activities, particularly if all of the potential transmitters are traced and quarantined. Apart from not being able to stay on the boat overnight, singlehanded and family group sailors do not have any unique restrictions under the current rules in England. Equally they are unlikely within those rules to sail to any other nation in the UK.
We must be grateful for any bit of good news these days!
