How to keep each other safe this winter

Let’s work together to help reduce the effects of Covid-19

WE’RE USED to catching more sniffles in winter – but this year, we need to be extra careful to protect ourselves and each other from Covid-19. A key way to catch Covid-19 is by inhaling particles of the virus in the air (sometimes referred to as “aerosols”). These can hang around in the air – like smoke. In an enclosed space especially, the particles can easily be breathed in by someone else.

It’s true that many of us have been vaccinated now — and jabs are the best way to protect against Covid-19 — but even if you are fully vaccinated you can still catch the virus and pass it to others — which might endanger them, even if the effects on you are mild. To reduce the risk of airborne transmission, it’s safest to meet friends, family and colleagues outdoors — a good excuse to buy a nice new thick winter coat, perhaps!

If you’re indoors, you can significantly reduce the concentration of virus in the air by opening your windows for as little as ten minutes (or leaving them a tiny bit open all the time, or leaving vents open if you’ve got those). Get into the habit of airing the rooms a few times a day. When you have visitors, let in some fresh air before, during and after their visit. Professor Catherine Noakes

(right), professor of environmental engineering from Leeds University, says: “As winter approaches, people will naturally spend more time indoors — welcoming friends and family into their home as the weather gets colder. While we’ve all been looking forward to this for so long, it’s important to remember that coronavirus is still around us, and can easily spread in the home. If someone is infected (and they might be showing no symptoms), Covid-19 particles are released into the air by coughing, talking or simply breathing. In an enclosed space, the infectious particles can build up over time and remain suspended in the air, increasing the risk of other people in the room breathing in the infectious particles, especially if there is no ventilation or fresh air helping to refresh the air being breathed. With this in mind, as we meet more people inside, it’s so important to use ventilation such as opening a window, even for just a short time, so fresh air can disperse and blow Covid-19 particles away and decrease the risk of others being infected”.

For the same reasons, it’s a good idea to wear a face covering over your mouth and nose if you are in an enclosed space where others are around.

You should also continue to test regularly with rapid Covbe id-19 tests. You may wish to consider testing if you feel there will be a period of higher risk that day, either to yourself or others — for example if you’re going to mixing in crowded indoor spaces such as a nightclub, or before visiting vulnerable people. Taking a rapid lateral flow test before a period of higher risk will give you peace of mind that you are unlikely to be infectious with Covid-19, and it is unlikely you will spread the virus. If you do test positive, you can then take action to help stop the virus spreading.

Rapid lateral flow tests are free, easy to do, and results come back within 30 minutes. You can get them from nhs.uk/Get-Tested, some pharmacies or by calling 119. Always report your result, whether it’s positive, negative, or void, because this helps to quickly spot when the virus is spreading, so we can identify outbreaks early — and respond sooner.

Dr Susan Hopkins (below), chief medical advisor, says: “Lateral flow devices are effective at finding people with high viral loads who are most infectious and most likely to transmit the virus to others. It is a very good test.” If you test positive, you should immediately self-isolate and confirm your result by taking a PCR test, which you can order online.

At work, use outdoor spaces whenever possible and ensure there is plenty of fresh air coming indoors. If you’re in charge of a business, provide hand sanitiser for staff and customers and regularly clean any frequently-touched surfaces. You could also display a QR code for clients or customers to check in using the NHS Covid-19 app. Ask staff to stay at home if they are unwell.

And of course, if you have coronavirus symptoms, arrange a free PCR test as soon as possible and self-isolate if you test positive, no matter what your age or vaccination status.

These are the simple and important ways we can keep each other safe this winter.