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Chance of Covid-19: indeed smaller by keeping social distance, larger group meetings lead to more infections

National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) research: chance of contracting corona indeed smaller by keeping distance (retrieved from Dagblad van het Noorden, in Dutch). People who adhere to the advice to keep 1.5 meters distance from others, run less risk of contracting the corona virus. That is the outcome of a study conducted by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). It shows that “social distancing is an important measure to stop the spread of the virus,” says the RIVM.

Infection rate 27 Percent lower by keeping social distance

The researchers analyzed data from 7,000 people who filled out regular questionnaires about their contacts during the first corona wave. Their blood was also tested for antibodies, which can be used to show that someone has been in contact with the virus. At the time, 5.5 percent of the people who did not follow the distance rules had antibodies in their blood. Of the participants who said they did, 4 percent made antibodies. Thus, among those who kept their distance, the infection rate was 27 percent lower.

Large group meetings lead to more infections

Large group meetings also lead to more infections, the study shows. Of the people who indicated that they had attended a meeting in an indoor space with more than 20 people, 6.2 percent were found to have antibodies in their blood. That percentage was one and a half times higher than among people who indicated that they had not attended any meetings at all.

1 in 5 of blood donors have antibodies

Meanwhile, many more people have antibodies in their blood. A random sample from the Sanquin blood bank recently showed that this concerns more than one in five blood donors. Among them are also people who have been vaccinated.

The research results of the RIVM were published in the scientific journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. They also show that people who had particularly close contact with children under the age of 10 hardly became infected with the virus. “There were no more antibodies in the blood of these participants than in participants who indicated they had no contact at all.”

New virus variants, such as the British variant that is now dominant, did not exist when the study was conducted. “Precisely because of the higher infectivity of these variants, it is important to keep a sufficient distance,” says the RIVM.

Covid Buzzer helps to keep social distance

Social Distancing, wearing a mouth mask, proper marking and hand washing help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Solutions like the Covid Buzzer help maintain social distance.

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Netherlands in lockdown due to spread of Covid-19: where did it go wrong?

As of today, the Netherlands is in a hard lockdown. The Dutch Newspaper AD: “For a long time a hard lockdown was something for other countries, we did it ‘intelligently’ or ‘partially’. But now the cabinet takes the big hammer and the Netherlands is almost completely locked up for a month. Where did it go wrong?


The AD mentions 4 reasons:

  1. Behavior: the pure fear is gone
  2. Schools: ‘children perhaps underestimated
  3. Seasonal effect: ‘Definitely plays along’.
  4. Policy: ‘Too slow, too late

Social Distance


The article mentions that in the beginning of the year many people stayed at home. Because of fear of getting corona themselves. Now it turns out that not everyone with covid-19 immediately comes to the ICU, this fear has disappeared. In addition, people are stretched to comply with the rules of conduct.

People stay at home much often: they travel and shop more and are more often physcial at work. At the same time, social distance is not always taken into account: in addition to staying at home as much as possible, maintaining the social distance remains one of the main ways to prevent the spread of covid.

Another reason is that the spread of Covid among children, especially those between the ages of 12 and 18, is underestimated. 8.5% of the last week’s traceable sources of infection could be traced back to school or child care. In addition, it is difficult to get a grip on the spread among young people: most of them have no or only mild symptoms. As a result, they can spread corona within the family and further, which in turn can infect vulnerable groups such as the elderly.

Seasonal effect

The article: “Weather and climate play a role, says Osterhaus, even if he doesn’t dare hang a weight on it. “The combination of temperature, UV light and humidity counts, I’m sure. What’s more, we’re more indoors when it’s cold and we’re more likely to cough at each other. But we don’t know yet how big the seasonal effect is. The fact is that even in warm countries this virus still causes problems”.


Policy too slow?

“Osterhaus has been saying it for months, ic figurehead Diederik Gommers also argued last weekend: the government must react more quickly to the curve of the virus. That means intervening harder when numbers increase, but also more flexibly when the corona slows down a bit”.


We don’t dare saying whether the policy was too slow. Still: if the Dutch had kept the measures at home as much as possible and maintained social distance, there would probably have been no need for lockdown.

Advanced Solutions Netherlands helps to maintain social distance at work, public buildings and schools. Especially in situations where the social distance is sometimes forgotten, a covid buzzer can help. In addition, the Covid Airmex has been developed: a device that checks whether the temperature, humidity, volatiles and co2 are optimal to prevent the spread of the covid virus as much as possible.

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Back to Office after Covid 19 lockdown: The Covid Buzzer

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Many offices have been closed or working on less power due to Covid-19. Now many offices want to open again. Last months, most employers have worked at home. There are employers who want to stay working at home, but most miss the energy of working at the office and the efficiency of a direct contact. And the latest gossip is juicier, the bad jokes funnier with an in-real-life cup of coffee together. How to re-open your office safely? Find out how the Covid Buzzer, a social distance badge, helps!

Creating a safe desk

But first, let’s take a look which measures offices take for re-opening. Most of their solutions consist of creating a safe desk. The policy that employees no longer have their own workplace are being drawn back. The limit of social distance (in the Netherlands 1.5 meter) is guaranteed by creating safe distances between desks. And sometimes, a transparent screen is placed between desks.

Creating a safe social distance in the building

So, there are many solutions possible for creating a Covid-19 safe desk. But… employers spend a lot of time by walking through the building. Going to desk. But also, to meetings, company restaurants, toilets and yes, the coffee machine. It’s there when people cross each other. And from the art of their function, facility managers are walking through the building all the time: such as receptionists, cleaners, security, maintenance workers.

Some offices are using tape for walking routes. But soon, after it’s there for some hour’s employers don’t notice the tape anymore. Especially when you’re busy and your mind is on the coming meeting.

Covid Buzzer: alarm goes off at 1.5-meter proximity

How do you alert your employees that they are less than 1.5 meters away from each other? This simple solution to keep a safe distance between each other. Everyone in the office, factory or elsewhere where many people gather, wears a badge. As soon as the badge meets another badge within a radius of 1.5 meters, a warning signal follows. The badge is completely anonymous, there are no privacy issues involved.

Covid Buzzer

Read More or order now: Covid Buzzer

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Work and recreation in times of Covid-19: The Covid Buzzer

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The last months, due to Covid-19 factories, offices and institutions have been closed or been working on less power. Now, factories and offices want to open again. In the meantime, it is clear that Covid-19 will be with us for a long time. Employers want a safe as possible environment for their employees and visitors, as well as healthcare institutions and tourist and cultural providers. In addition, companies have a legal obligation to ensure a safe environment. And to take measures where necessary, so that the social distance is respected.

The Social Distance Badge is the device with which the 1.5-meter distance can be maintained. Simple, safe and without privacy issues

Work and recreation in times of Corona

For whom, what, why?

  • Factories
  • Construction and installation sites
  • Logistics: ports, warehouses
  • Transport (train, airports, busses)
  • Offices and Facility management
  • Healthcare
  • Touristic, sports and cultural sites and events

Factories

Factories and offices want to open again. Where offices can still choose by letting employees work from home, factories do not have this luxury. At assembly lines, many people are working together, concentrated to carry out their work. Then the 1.5 meter social distance may be ignored.

Construction and installations, logistics and transport

Employees are also unable to work from home during construction and installations. Many employees work side by side and close together. The employee will often need his focus to perform his work accurately and pay attention to other forms of safety, for example to prevent him from slipping or falling down. Employees can then forget to maintain the 1.5 meter social distance. The Social Distance badge helps to remind the employee to keep distance.

Offices and facility management

In the last months, many employees of offices have worked at home. But for social bonding and the well-being of employees, it’s important that employees are regularly present in the office. And not every office has the option to offer working from home.

Employees walk from workplace to company restaurant and meeting and back again. And meanwhile, facility managers walk through the entire building. Then it is important to keep the 1.5-meter distance, since 1 employee can spread the Corona-19 virus in the entire building.

Healthcare

For some groups, Covid-19 is particularly dangerous: the elderly and people who already have a condition. It is important for them that social distance is maintained. By clients, staff and visitors. In addition, some residents must be reminded to keep 1.5 meters.

Tourist, Cultural, Recreational, Sports sites and events

Visitors get mixed up, are enthusiastic and forget to keep their distance. Or are there visitors who do not take the 1.5 meter into account and thus pose a risk. With the Social Distance Badge, you can safely open again.


Guaranteed 1,5 meters distance

All employees (and customers or visitors) receive the SD badge upon entrance. This is worn around the wrist or neck. The SD Badge continuously scans its environment for other badges via a so-called Ultra Wide Band signal. This signal provides the most accurate distance measurement. As soon as 2 (or more) badges are less than 1.5 meters apart, they give a warning sound and/ or light signal. This allows everyone to keep enough distance. As soon as there are another safe 1.5 meters, the signal will stop.

Read more and order now: https://covidbuzzer.com

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