When you write an article about this type of new assessment tool, you obviously want to fill it out yourself first to see what your level of risk is when it comes to the dreaded virus. After selecting which country I’m in, how old I am, and whether or not I come into contact with others for my work, I then get questions about my current lifestyle.

My result: 50% chance...

Am I leaving my house for family visits? Under what circumstances would I no longer do that? Do I always keep a 1.5-metre distance? Do I wash my hands regularly? And how do I do that exactly? After a few minutes, this is followed by my ‘risk assessment’ and my ‘safety assessment’. The first is a visualisation that is coloured in half, from which I conclude that I have a 50% chance of contracting the virus and it staying with me for a while. I could improve my behaviour mainly to protect others, but not so much for myself. The second paragraph explains what I am already doing that is ‘fantastic’ and what I could be doing better. “It’s difficult to not see friends and family, but still it’s wise to avoid that now. Hang in there; it won't last forever!”

Zero percent risk doesn’t exist

Slightly disappointed with my 50% risk level, I call Sylvia Roozen. She explains that scoring ‘half way’ doesn’t mean that your risk of infection is 50%. “It means that you have approximately the same level of risk as others. It’s no reason to panic, but there is room for improvement.” She explains that the purpose of the tool is to promote behavioural change in people. “This requires more than just saying that it’s important to wash your hands, or that you should stay at home as much as possible. Along with keeping the 1.5-metre distance from others, these are the three most important pillars of prevention for this virus.” She acknowledges that there is always a certain level of risk of contracting the virus, so no one will get a zero percent risk estimate. “Even if you live in self-isolation, a package or letters will come in from outside. The coronavirus is a treacherous virus. This tool primarly aims to clarify how you can further improve your behaviour, so that we can fight the virus together.”

Volunteers from 35 countries worked together

The tool takes into account the coronavirus infection rates in 35 different countries; it is from these countries that the 150 volunteers (from behavioural scientists, epidemiologists and virologists to web designers and translators) running the project come. The coordinators have taken on the project voluntarily in addition to their regular jobs. “We felt the need to contribute something towards containing this pandemic. Behavioural change is our area of expertise and that is the basis of this tool, next to existing tools, such as Pandemic Footprint PFI. Our tool distinguishes itself by providing insights into the underlying reasons why people exhibit certain behaviours. And these are essential for behavioural change.”

The tool was only launched in Dutch today and will be made available online in the other 35 countries and languages as well. The results of the anonymously completed questionnaires will eventually also be shared with national governments and healthcare organisations. The tool is available at https://your-covid-19-risk.com.