With Christmas just around the corner, the opportunity to celebrate and reunite with loved ones after a difficult year is almost upon us. But Covid-19 still poses a very real threat because of the new Omicron variant and the increase in social interactions anticipated over the coming weeks.
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 now at nhs.uk/covidvaccination.
“Get boosted now” is the best way to protect ourselves against Omicron. This mission is more urgent and more important than ever before with Covid-19 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.
With cases of Covid-19 rising, new measures have been implemented – such as face coverings becoming mandatory for some indoor public venues, including places of worship, theatres and cinemas, as well as in shops and on public transport. People have also been advised to resume working from home where possible, while access to certain venues, including nightclubs, requires Covid certification (or negative rapid lateral flow test).
Despite stricter new rules, it’s still crucial we continue to follow other safety measures over the holidays to protect ourselves and loved ones, says GP partner Dr Luke Gardner, from the Park Surgery, in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. “This Christmas, I will be spending the day with a few members of my close family,” he says. “As far as gift buying goes, I’m popping into local shops at less busy times, maintaining social distancing, wearing a face mask and ensuring I’ve packed my hand sanitiser.”
Thinking about plans beforehand can be helpful, he says. “The risk of viral transmission is reduced when meeting people outside, therefore my gift exchanges this year with friends will be completed outside over a glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate, rather than in my home.”
Ahead of the big day itself, testing is still incredibly important, adds Gardner. “Leading up to Christmas Day, all members of my family will be taking a rapid lateral flow test before meeting, since these give an extra layer of security alongside following all of the other advice.
“For our Christmas Day meal, we plan to eat in the largest room in the house to maximise ventilation. The kitchen extractor fan will be whizzing away all day and the windows will be open to improve ventilation and reduce the risk of virus transmission. If anyone in the family feels unwell with symptoms of Covid-19 – anything from a high temperature or new cough to loss of taste or smell – then they will take a PCR test and isolate appropriately until their test results are back. As we enjoy the festive period, it’s really important that we all follow NHS and public health advice this year to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities safe.”
Take up vaccine boosters
We know that the vaccine is our best defence against the virus, reducing our chances of spreading and catching it, and – if we become infected – it means we are less likely to become seriously ill as a result. It’s vital to stay on top of booster vaccinations, hence the UK-wide drive, so be sure to prioritise getting one when you are invited to or when your age group becomes eligible. If you haven’t had your primary dose yet, do so as soon as you can (you can book by calling your GP or visiting the NHS website).
Now is a good time to start thinking about other jabs and boosters as well. More people are expected to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity as a result of social distancing measures during the pandemic. Research shows that anybody who gets flu and Covid-19 at the same time is more likely to become seriously ill, so it’s really important to protect yourself and those around you by having any vaccinations offered. Even if you have already had Covid-19, the flu vaccine is still safe and effective at helping to prevent flu.
Keep indoor areas well-ventilated
Because the Covid-19 virus is passed on via droplets and aerosols when an infected person coughs, talks or breathes, meeting outdoors dramatically reduces the risk of airborne transmission. Sometimes though, this isn’t always possible, so when in close contact with others indoors, it’s important to let fresh air in whenever you can.
Research shows that the more fresh air we let into our homes or enclosed spaces, the less likely a person is to inhale infectious particles, so by ventilating indoor spaces we are able to dramatically reduce the chances of transmission. Even just opening windows for 10 minutes makes a real difference. Extractor fans in the bathroom or kitchen are another helpful way of letting fresh air in (just leave them running for longer than usual, with the door closed).
Catherine Noakes, professor of environmental engineering at Leeds University, says: “While we are all looking forward to spending time with friends and family this Christmas, it’s important to remember that coronavirus is still spreading and can easily transmit in the home, even when people are vaccinated.”
She explains: “In an enclosed space, the infectious particles hang around in the air like smoke and can build up over time, increasing the risk of other people in the room breathing in the virus, especially if there is no ventilation or fresh air helping to refresh the air. That’s why it’s so important to ventilate indoor spaces by opening windows, even if just regularly for a short time. This way, fresh air can disperse and blow Covid-19 particles away to decrease the risk of others being infected.”
Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed areas
New government rules mean face coverings are now mandatory in some indoor public venues, including places of worship, theatres and cinemas, as well as in communal areas of universities, colleges and schools (by staff, visitors and pupils in year 7 or above) and on public transport.
Ensuring we protect ourselves and those around us is key, so make sure your mask or face covering fits properly – they should cover the nose and mouth completely while allowing you to breathe comfortably. Evidence suggests thicker fabrics and multiple layers may reduce the risk of transmission, so ideally they will be made from at least two layers of material in order to work effectively (the World Health Organization recommends three layers).
Getting in the habit of wearing them in situations where we might be at a higher risk of catching or transmitting the virus is incredibly important – even if it’s not legally required. It’s especially important to remain vigilant in crowded or enclosed spaces, since it’s not always obvious if somebody is infected.
Remain vigilant about testing
When life is busy, it’s easy to forget to take a test, or to check others in the household are doing so regularly. But ensuring we take regular rapid tests will deliver peace of mind when meeting loved ones over the holidays, as well as helping to stop the spread of the virus. Ahead of meeting anybody indoors or visiting those who are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if infected, be sure to take a rapid lateral flow test. Use existing supplies – many schools and workplaces offer free tests, as well as some pharmacies, local community test sites or the NHS website – it’s worth thinking ahead when it comes to the holidays, when we’re likely to be socialising much more.
Don’t forget the NHS Covid-19 app is still the fastest way to know if you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid-19, so keep it on.
If results are positive, ensure you self-isolate immediately and take a PCR test, as well as reporting the test results (at gov.uk/report-covid19-result or by calling 119). This is important, since it helps the NHS monitor the spread of the virus and ultimately, saves lives.
For those travelling this Christmas, new rules now mean anybody aged 12 or over travelling to England from abroad must show a negative PCR or rapid lateral flow test result beforehand, having taken the test in the two days ahead of travel. You must also take a PCR test within two days of arriving, self-isolating until the negative test result has been delivered (even if fully vaccinated).
Daily testing for contacts of Covid-19
From Tuesday, 14 December 2021, if you have been in contact with someone with Covid-19 and are double-vaccinated you should take a daily rapid lateral flow test for seven days if you have no symptoms. This will help slow the spread of the virus and allow you and your loved ones to continue your plans that day if you test negative. This applies to those who have been contact traced officially and those who have found out in any other way. All those who test positive within the seven days or develop symptoms must self-isolate, take a PCR test and follow the latest guidance on gov.uk.
Remember, if you develop Covid-19 symptoms at any time, you must self-isolate and take a PCR test. If you are unvaccinated, you must continue to self-isolate for 10 days if you are a contact of someone with Covid-19. Those working in a vulnerable setting already have access to daily contact testing and should continue to follow the specific guidance from their workplace as this varies depending on the setting.
This advertiser content was paid for by the UK government. All together (“Get vaccinated this winter”) is a government-backed initiative tasked with informing the UK about the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information, visit gov.uk/coronavirus
