For almost two years, our lives have been dramatically impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with millions of us changing the way we live, work and interact with each other on a daily basis. But now, as the last remaining Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in England and Northern Ireland – with Scotland scheduled to follow – self-isolation for those with the virus is no longer a legal requirement. So, as we move towards the next stage of the pandemic, it’s still crucial to remain vigilant, taking care to protect our health and others.
Behaviours that build protection
Despite the rules changing, vaccines and boosters remain our best defence against Covid-19, significantly reducing the risk of serious illness from the virus. Research shows that unvaccinated people are more likely to be hospitalised with the virus than those who have had both doses of the vaccine and a booster. Being vaccinated also means there’s a much smaller chance of developing long Covid, too.
It’s still important to take up vaccinations and boosters if they are overdue – and to encourage loved ones to do the same, says GP Dr Thuva Amuthan. “Over the last few years, we have learned so much about coronavirus and have become very well informed of infection control precautions. It’s crucial we continue to follow these,” he adds.
“Boosters allow our bodies to prepare a more robust and protective immune response, even against some variants, meaning your immune system is likely to be much better prepared,” he says. “Vaccinations have been very effective at reducing Covid-related hospitalisations and deaths. Studies have actually shown the risk of developing long Covid was reduced by approximately 50% in those who were double vaccinated.”
Another GP, Dr Amina Ahmed, adds that it is important to remember that viruses can mutate and evolve. “These are called ‘strains’ and sometimes boosters will include small changes to teach the body to manage these strains,” she says. “The aim of Covid-19 vaccines is to minimise the growth of the virus when your body comes into contact with it, which prevents the spread of Covid because the body kills it. As the body can kill the virus more swiftly, the virus does not get the chance to do as much damage or cause long-term symptoms.”
Behaviours when ill
Even with all restrictions ending, it doesn’t mean the virus has disappeared – and the reality is, many of us are still likely to become infected over the coming months. So it’s important we continue to recognise symptoms and adapt our behaviours where possible, even when it’s not a legal requirement.
Symptoms of the virus can vary from person to person, but the main symptoms should still be easily recognisable, says Ahmed. “The main symptoms of Covid are a new and continuous cough – so coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours; a high temperature – feeling hot to the touch on your back or chest; and changes to your taste and sense of smell.”
For anyone experiencing symptoms, make sure to minimise your contact with others – even though it is no longer a legal requirement.
“This is because you may have the infection and these measures will prevent the infection spreading to others,” says Ahmed. “You should take these measures even if you are fully vaccinated because you are giving your body time to kill the virus and will not be spreading it while your body upscales its infection-fighting systems. If your test is positive, then follow government guidance, but take measures to prevent the spread, too.”
Amuthan adds: “Just as you would if you had a cold or a stomach bug, it is vital we continue to practise stringent hygiene measures to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
“Rest will not only help your body recover but also avoid spreading it to others. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and eating well, too.”
Always-on behaviours
A major stumbling block around slowing the spread of Covid-19 has always been people who have the virus but show no symptoms at all, spreading the virus unintentionally. Without realising you have Covid-19, it’s very easy to infect others, which is why it’s so important to practise simple, helpful behaviours that stop the virus hanging around.
The first is face coverings or masks, which are especially useful in enclosed public spaces. Wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth in an enclosed space helps stop the spread of the virus, since anyone with Covid-19 releases contagious droplets when they exhale, which spread quickly.
“Wearing masks helps because if you have the infection, the mask keeps the droplets from spreading,” says Ahmed. “If you don’t have the infection, the mask will prevent you from inhaling airborne infected droplets, too.”
Ventilation is incredibly important as well, since when indoors, coronavirus particles hang around in the air like smoke. Letting fresh air in when meeting indoors could be the difference between spreading the virus or not, since fresh air disperses Covid-19 particles.
If an area is enclosed, all the individuals in that small space are likely to come into contact with contagious droplets, whether they are in the air or on surfaces,” says Ahmed. “Instead, we should meet in open spaces, or ensure indoor spaces are well-ventilated, so that infected droplets are dispersed widely and quickly, reducing the risk that we come into contact with them.”
Even small actions such as opening windows for 10 minutes every hour when visitors are over, or letting fresh air into rooms before and after visits, helps dilute any virus particles. Likewise, leaving extractor fans running in bathrooms and kitchens can help spread fresh air around the home. The same advice applies to car-sharing, and in the workplace.
Meeting outside where possible is not only helpful for our mental wellbeing but will also reduce the spread of coronavirus,” says Amuthan. “If you have coronavirus, it’s really important you follow these behaviours to reduce the spread as much as possible. Until enough of the world is vaccinated for us to develop herd immunity, we need to continue these practices to avoid further variant pandemics.”
Regular handwashing is another habit well worth continuing, says Ahmed. “It is important to wash hands to prevent the spread if you are infected, but also to prevent the virus entering your body,” she says. “Washing your hands regularly will ensure infected droplets are washed off before they reach your mouth and nose. This is also why we advise people not to touch their face when their hands aren’t clean.”
If you’re worried that some of your good habits are starting to slip, Ahmed suggests a creative approach to envision how the virus spreads: “Try imagining infected droplets as honey that sticks to whatever it touches,” she says. “An infected person will have honey on their hands and leave it in areas they touch, such as door handles, switches and so forth. Instead, prevent spreading it by washing your hands regularly. The idea for those not infected is to avoid getting that honey on their hands from these surfaces. And if you do, wash it off before honey ends up on your face.”
For more information on how to stay safe as the Covid-19 rules change, visit gov.uk/coronavirus. For more information about the guidance in Scotland visit gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19. For more information about the guidance in Northern Ireland visit nidirect.gov.uk/coronavirus. For more information about the guidance in Wales visit gov.wales/coronavirus.
This advertiser content was paid for by the UK government. All together (“Living with Covid”) is a government-backed initiative tasked with informing the UK about the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information, visit gov.uk/coronavirus
