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Covid-19 Expert Comment - social distancing, school closures and the government's fiscal package, Italy crisis

Below are comments compiled by experts at the University of Reading.

All of these experts are available for comment, please contact the press office on 0118 378 5757 or email press.office@reading.ac.uk to book.


Social distancing

Professor Patricia Riddell, a behavioural scientist at the University of Reading, said:

“At a time when the whole of society is being told to keep our distance from each other, in case contact with a friend, loved one or stranger alike might be lethal, we are reminded that human interaction, if not physical contact, is critical for our mental health.

“While there is a clear threat from the Covid-19 disease, this crisis also brings us an opportunity, to show the importance and the value of showing more kindness to each other, at every level of society. All the evidence shows that acts of kindness are good for the health of the doer, the recipient, and society in general, and right now we need kindness more than ever.

“Uncertainty and anxiety are troublesome states to be in for our mental health. A good option is giving people purpose in their actions, and staying busy. While some of the concerns about isolation fatigue may have been overplayed, it’s important for us all to see what we need to do to play our role in helping our families, the country and the world fight off this disease.

“For example, it’s helpful to characterise guidance which might look like it is asking people to do nothing, like staying at home, as taking positive action instead, in a way that’s meaningful to the individual. For parents and grandparents it might be about protecting other family members, or for those with elderly relatives it might be about keeping older or vulnerable people safe. That’s much more likely to be effective as a way of spreading messages and asking people to comply than forcing them to do so.”

School closures

Dr Helen Bilton, Professor of Outdoor Learning at the University of Reading, said: 

"Schools will close, online materials will be created, more difficult for the younger child though, than the older. Teachers have already put actions in place.

"My strong urge would to make sure people still go outside and get fresh air as this will keep them healthy and to make sure rooms are kept aerated, as in open the windows regularly. The only problem here is if the Govt says don’t go out, which will help no one.

"It's not an ideal situation and schools (and us)  will do their level best to support learning. Children and parents are used to accessing the school website."

Fiscal package

Professor Marina Della Giusta, Professor of Economics at the University of Reading, said:

"The package announced yesterday by the Chancellor  is intended as the first in what is likely to become a series of measures aimed at sustaining the economy though the worst of the Covid-19 crisis. 

Italy crisis

Dr Federico Faloppa, Programme Director for Italian Studies at the University of Reading, said:

"Why has Italy such a high number of deaths compared to other European countries?

"The staggering death toll in Italy has prompted many to wonder why so many Italians have succumbed to the illness compared to other countries.

"Since some contextual circumstance (related to social life and habits) and some dynamics about the contagion are not clear yet, the main explanation is demographics. Italian high life expectancy, which is normally seen as one of the best indicators of the Italian quality of life and of the free and universal healthcare system, looks like a negative factor in the current situation.

"The Italian population is the oldest in Europe, with about 23 percent of the inhabitants age 65 or older — and with a median age of 47.3, compared with 38.3 in the US.

"Many of those who have died in Italy were in their 80s and 90s, a segment of the population that is more susceptible to the ravages of COVID-19. According to the bulletin of the «Istituto Superiore di Sanità» issued on 17 March, the average age of death is in fact 80.5 (women 83.7; men 79.5), whereas the average age of all people that contracted COVID-19 is 79.5.

"Half of a sample of 17.7 of all deceased people had already 3 pre-existent chronic pathologies when they died, and this would be explained by the fact that older people are more likely to develop conditions like cancer and diabetes that may compromise their immune systems. In other words, the older you are, the more compromised your health can be when you contract the virus.

"The same bulletin provides other interesting statistics that give a clear picture of the current situation in Italy: out of 2003 deaths, 71.1% were resident in Lombardy and 17.3% in Emilia-Romagna (17,3%), i.e. the regioni were the virus epidemic first broke out in the Peninsula, around 3 weeks ago. And given that the average time from the onset of symptoms to death has been calculated in 8 days, this would explain why these two regions have been so badly affected, whereas in other regions – and countries – the virus has started spreading much later."