Covid: stop the spread
| Published date | 07 November 2021 |
| Publication title | Sunday Sun |
Play keep Sir Patrick chief "While vaccines protection, COVID-19 this winter by taking steps like wearing a indoor spaces, ventilating rooms By doing this, spread of the ourselves
Let fresh air in 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.
Wear a face covering One in three people with COVID-19 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.
Get tested Taking regular rapid lateral flow tests gives you peace of mind - they're free, easy to do and give results within 30 minutes. Go to nhs.uk/get-tested or call 119 to order a pack. They're also available at some pharmacies: first visit gov.uk/getcollect-code to get a code that you will need to show when you collect them.
You may also wish to consider taking a test if you're likely to be in a higher-risk situation that day - for example, mixing in a crowded indoor space such as a nightclub, or visiting vulnerable people. Doing a test will reassure you that you are unlikely to be infectious with COVID- 19. 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...
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