Celebrating the New Year with loved ones
LET’S HELP PROTECT ONE ANOTHER DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON
IN PREPARATION for seeing friends and family this festive season, it is important to create a safe space in order that everyone can enjoy celebrations and socialising.
As this has been a difficult year for many, the festive season is a chance to take a break and appreciate time with loved ones.
Due to the new Omicron variant, it’s vital that everyone observes Covid-19 safe behaviour and takes extra care to help keep family and friends safe over the holidays by following these four steps: ventilating homes or venues, testing regularly, wearing a mask in crowded spaces and getting the Covid-19 vaccine or booster jabs.
It is the busiest trading period for businesses and as shoppers get ready with last-minute purchases, they are encouraged to observe some of the simple measures that have helped us stay safe, such as wearing a mask in shops and while on public transport.
Pete Patel (inset below) has five convenience stores and a Bargain Booze outlet, with six located in and around London, and one in Derbyshire. He said, “We are politely asking whoever is coming to our shop to wear masks if they are not wearing one. We also offer them a disposable one then and there.”
Another multi-store retailer, Vijaya Kalikannan who owns and operates seven stores in the North East of England, said he encourages Covid testing among his staff. “If anything comes positive, we tell them to go for a PCR test and take 10 days isolation,” he added.
Ali Sparkes (inset below), owner and director of Happiness & Technology at The Health Dispensary in south Wales, said: “At both our pharmacies, we have installed UV disinfection robots”, which disinfect the air through a fan and clean all surfaces after the staff leave the premises. She said: “We still adopt all safe measures – masks, social distancing, separate rooms for lunch and alcohol hand gels.”
On encouraging customers to follow safety measures, Sparkes said, “We ask if they can wear masks on entry, and we have hand sanitisers available for them to use.”
Bobby Singh, of Holmfield Lane Superstore in Pontefract, explained how signage and informative posters have been put up “once again” in his store to inform customers about Covid safety measures. “We are politely asking people to keep wearing masks inside the store, though most of them are back to wearing one,” Singh added.
Dr Farzana Hussain, from The Project Surgery in east London, said, “Please come forward to get your Covid vaccine – whether it’s your first, second or booster dose – it’s never too late. The offer is evergreen, so book your jab now.”
By observing guidelines we’ll ensure safety for ourselves and the people we are spending time with, whether that is New Year’s parties at home or catching up with friends.
The new Omicron Covid-19 variant is spreading fast. This means it will quickly infect very large numbers of people and anyone who is unvaccinated or who hasn’t had their booster is at even greater risk from Covid-19 and more serious illness. Get Boosted Now: Every adult in the country now needs to get a Covid-19 booster vaccine, because two doses does not give you enough protection against catching Omicron. Get your booster at nhs.uk/covidvaccination
Get Boosted Now is the national mission to build a wall of defence against the new Omicron variant. This mission is more urgent and more important than ever before with Covid because Omicron Covid-19 is spreading fast. Vaccines are the best way we can protect ourselves.
You can get a Covid-19 booster 12 weeks after your second dose. Boosters give you the best possible protection against the virus and should significantly reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalisation.