Winter is well and truly here, along with the cold nights and cosy family gatherings. It’s getting too cold for those early morning school runs and we’re all looking forward to the holiday season! This is the second winter of the pandemic and another lockdown during the holidays is the last thing we want.
So, what is the current status and what are the guidelines that we should follow?
What’s the situation?
Current hard facts:
- The Omicron variant of Covid-19 is spreading rapidly. To protect against the potential impacts, booster jabs are being offered to all adults 18+.
- There’s a spike in Covid cases and fatalities
- There’s a spike in secondary school pupils with Covid
- Over 5 million people in England still need to get their first Covid jab
- There are millions who’ve had one jab, but not the second
- 98% of pregnant women in hospitals with Covid are unvaccinated
- The uptake of the booster is slower than expected, and immunity waning amongst the most vulnerable
- With the double threat of Covid and flu in full circulation for the first time this Winter, experts are predicting a six-fold increase in fatalities from flu alone.
Most of us want to spend the winter holidays with our loved ones, after having spent it mostly on Zoom last year. But increasingly, many feel it might be the same this year. We may feel powerless to prevent what is happening, we may feel that it is not within our control, we may feel that it’s too late to take action and that decisions will be made and imposed at any point anyway. But that is not the case.
The reality is that each and every one of us, especially us mothers who are the centre of the household, WE can collectively contribute and take actions that will determine the fight against Covid. If every single one of us took responsibility in safeguarding ourselves and our families, we would go a long way in keeping another lockdown at bay.
What are the NHS Guidelines?
These are the simple actions that we are advised to do, which can safeguard yourself and your loved ones.
- Ventilation: Opening doors and windows regularly, even for 10 minutes when you are meeting indoors can help you and your loved ones stay safe. Letting in fresh air can help reduce the spread of COVID.
- Wear a face covering: It is now a legal requirement to wear face coverings on public transport, in shops and in other places like hairdressers. A full list is available on gov.uk.
- Remember to take a Lateral Flow test before meeting up with friends and family during the holiday season. If your result is positive, self-isolate immediately and take a PCR test.
- Wash your hands regularly, here’s a video on handwashing. Regular hand washing not only reduces the spread but the risk of contracting the illness when you touch your nose, eyes or mouth.
- Complete both doses of your Covid jab. Being vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself against catching Covid.
- Top up your immunity by taking the Covid booster jab as soon as you are invited.
- Top up your immunity by taking the flu jab.
To find out how to book your flu vaccine and if you’re eligible for the Covid booster, visit nhs.uk/wintervaccinations
For more information on how you can protect yourself, see: https://www.gov.uk/
Video on protective behaviours
