Living with Covid-19

Living with Covid

As we learn to live safely with Covid-19, there are actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 and passing it on to others. These actions will also help to reduce the spread of other respiratory infections, such as flu, which can spread easily and may cause serious illness in some people.

Covid-19 can spread easily and cause serious illness in some people. You may be infected and not have any symptoms but still pass infection onto others.

The risk of catching or passing on Covid-19 is greatest when someone who is infected is physically close to, or sharing an enclosed and/or poorly ventilated space with, other people. When someone with a respiratory viral infection breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release small particles that contain the virus which causes the infection. These particles can be breathed in or can come into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The particles can also land on surfaces and be passed from person to person via touch.

You will not always know whether someone you come into contact with is at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from respiratory infections, including Covid-19. They could be strangers (for example people you sit next to on public transport) or people you may have regular contact with (for example friends and work colleagues).

There are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections and protect those at highest risk. Things you can choose to do are:

• Get vaccinated
• Let fresh air in if meeting others indoors.
• Practise good hygiene:
  • wash your hands
  • cover your coughs and sneezes
  • clean your surroundings frequently
• Wear a face covering or a face mask.

Face coverings and face masks can help reduce the chance of you spreading infection to others, especially in crowded and enclosed spaces, and may protect you from becoming infected by some respiratory viruses.

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as Covid-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

The full range of advice for living with Covid can be found here: COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

No change in health and social care settings

Please note: although the restrictions have been lifted in most places, there is no change in health and social care settings:

• You will still be asked to wear a face covering (unless exempt)
• You must still wash hands
• You must still follow guidance on social distancing

What to do if you have symptoms of Covid

Living with Covid in our society means we have to be vigilant and look out for any signs or symptoms of Covid. The symptoms of Covid are:

• Fever or high temperature
• New continuous cough
• Loss of taste or smell
• shortness of breath
• feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• a headache
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• feeling sick or being sick

If you feel unwell and have symptoms you should consider how best to avoid spreading infection to other people. Think about who you might come into contact with… and whether you might be putting them at risk? Stay at home to reduce the spread of germs and viruses in the same way that you would with other illness, such as norovirus or flu. Don’t forget the basics of good hygiene like covering our mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.

Read more about symptoms on the NHS website here: COVID-19 symptoms and what to do - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Be respectful of others

There are also people in our neighbourhoods and communities who remain vulnerable to the virus and the end of restrictions will be an anxious time for many.

We must take these steps out of Covid at our own pace.

If people choose to go back to how things were before Covid, we must be respectful of those who might need to go a little more slowly.

Nottingham people pulled together to support each other through the pandemic. Let’s not stop now. Let’s all continue to take care of ourselves and take care of other people.