Covid: stop
You’re much more likely to catch Covid-19 indoors, especially in a confined space with no ventilation. The risk isn’t just about being near other people – mixing indoors can lead to a build-up of the virus in the atmosphere.
Meeting outdoors is safer, but that’s not always possible when it’s cold and raining. So whether you’re at home or at work, let fresh air in wherever you can. Leave vents open and windows ajar. If you’re having visitors round, open the windows for ten minutes before, during and after. Don’t worry about losing heat from the house if you give it a good blast of fresh air – it will soon build up again.
“While vaccines are offering us good protection, Covid-19 is still with us. Stay safe
this winter by taking simple but effective steps like wearing a face covering in crowded indoor spaces, testing regularly and ventilating rooms where possible. By doing this, we can reduce the spread of the virus and keep ourselves and others safer.”
One in three people with Covid19 has no symptoms – and you can still get it if you’re fully vaccinated, so it makes sense to wear a face covering indoors whenever you can. Although the rules no longer require you to do so in some indoor settings, you’re protecting others when you wear it. Make sure it covers both your mouth and nose because if you do have Covid-19, you can release contagious droplets every time you breathe out.
So next time you hop on the bus or pop to the shop, think about wearing a face covering to protect those around you – and hopefully they’ll be doing the same.
LIFE IS GETTING BACK TO NORMAL, BUT COVID-19 IS STILL OUT THERE. HERE’S HOW SIMPLE STEPS SUCH AS WEARING A FACE COVERING, GETTING TESTED AND LETTING FRESH AIR INTO YOUR HOME CAN HELP PROTECT YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES
unlikely to be infectious with Covid19. If you do test positive, you can take action to help stop the virus spreading. Let’s send our children back to school safely.
“It is a very good test,” says Public Health England’s Susan Hopkins. “Rapid lateral flow devices are effective at finding people with high viral loads who are most likely to transmit the virus to others.”
It’s important to report all test results, whether they’re positive, negative or void, because that helps identify outbreaks early – you can do this at gov.uk/report-covid19result,
If you have symptoms (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell and taste) you must take a PCR test immediately, which you can book online. Even if your symptoms are mild or you’re not sure, it’s worth getting tested. You can either go to a local test centre or you will be sent a PCR test to
do at home. Don’t leave home until you get the result, and if you test positive you’ll need to self-isolate from the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test if you’re asymptomatic) for ten days.
NHS Test and Trace will continue to protect the public this winter, by helping to break the chains of transmission – and they will inform you if you’ve been in close contact with someone who’s tested positive for Covid. If they contact you, they’ll tell you exactly what you need to do, so just follow their advice.
Vaccination is the best defence against serious Covid-related illness. You can still get Covid and pass it on if you’re vaccinated, but it’s a vital step to keep yourself safe. Make sure you book your Covid and flu jabs when invited. This autumn, Covid booster jabs are being offered to more vulnerable groups such as people over 50, over-16s with certain health conditions and frontline health and social care workers, including those who work in care homes.