This study on barrier gestures was carried out on 844 people and in several phases in order to be able to compare the behavior of the population over a large period.
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Covid-19: French-speaking Belgians respect barrier gestures less than they did a few months ago, according to a study by UCLouvain. This could impact the circulation of the virus.
Since the partial deconfinement started on May 8, French-speaking Belgians respect barrier gestures less than they did a few months ago, according to a UCLouvain study published on Friday.
This could impact the circulation of the virus.
Women are the ones who are the most rigorous in the application of the rules. Conversely, young people and people with a high level of education tend to neglect respect for physical and social distance.
This study on barrier gestures was carried out on 844 people and in several phases in order to be able to compare the behavior of the population over a large period. The first information gathering took place from April 1 to 11, the second from April 22 to 30 and the third from May 13 to 18.
During this month and a half, there has been a decrease in new contaminations (from 3,437 on average per day with 3,167 patients in hospitals to 2,428 positive cases and 1,857 hospitalizations at the end of the study). At the same time, vaccination has made a leap forward, with 36% and 13% of the population having received, in mid-May, one dose and two doses of vaccine respectively. In addition, there was a significant easing of measures, such as the reopening of the terraces on May 8.
According to the study, compliance with the rules relating to barrier gestures (wearing a mask, physical and social distance and hand washing / disinfection) decreases over time, in particular with regard to physical distancing and the limitation of social contact. . Which, according to the research team, probably reflects a natural need for real contact.
Women are, moreover, more rigorous in the application of the rules than the men questioned, while the young people (18-35 years) and the people with a higher level of education neglect more the respect of the distance. physical and social compared to other groups.
The more people are aware of the risks and consequences of infection, or are worried about getting sick, the more they follow the rules, it still appears.
Scientists from UCLouvain have also observed that very low trust in experts and the media results in significantly lower monitoring of health behaviors and that the influence of those around them has a direct impact on period monitoring.
If the number of contacts increases, of course, the circulation of the virus will also increase
For Niko Speybroeck, epidemiologist at UCLouvain, “if the number of contacts increases, of course, the circulation of the virus will also increase”, he warns. The circulation of the virus is indeed influenced by three parameters: the number of contacts, the risks of transmission by contact (reduced risks thanks to the barrier gestures) and the immunity of the population.
If the circulation of the virus were to increase again, this could lead to an increase in hospitalizations of young people, who are not yet vaccinated at present, and therefore long-term Covid cases, which are observed in more and more infected young people. , warns the Leuven researcher.
Finally, the appearance of new variants could trigger a third wave if collective immunity (70% of people vaccinated) is not reached. “It is essential to continue to be vigilant if we want to be able to aim for total deconfinement, without barrier gestures, by the end of the year 2021”, concludes Niko Speybroeck.
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