Preliminary research indicates less than half of the British public could name the key Covid-19 symptoms and fewer than one in five self-isolated after experiencing symptoms, despite government guidelines. The pre-print study from King’s College London found that around 70% of people said they “intended to self-isolate if they were to develop key symptoms," but in fact only 18.2% of those who developed symptoms in the last week actually reported self-isolating. The study -- which has yet to be published or peer-reviewed -- collected data from 30,000 people in the United Kingdom between March and August. The study indicated “financial constraints and caring responsibilities are common barriers to adherence,” Rubin added. The results suggest adherence could be improved by clearer public health messaging and financial assistance to reduce the pressures of self-isolation, the study's authors added.

Source: CNN September 26, 2020 12:22 UTC