As if being a student wasn’t stressful enough, along comes coronavirus to make things even more complicated. It may be tempting to ignore the threat and just carry on as normal, but the reality is that COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon and we all have to do our part to keep ourselves and others safe.
There are lots of actions you can take to prevent the spread of the virus, along with things that you can avoid doing.
Legal Measures
Currently, you must wear a face mask on all public transport in England. Many students use buses and trains frequently, so it’s important to follow the rules to slow the spread and prevent yourself from catching COVID-19. This is especially important now that the new Omicron variant is spreading in the UK.
This is also the case in many indoor settings, such as hospitals, banks and shops. From Monday 13th December 2021, more restrictions will be put in place, so make sure to keep up to date with COVID-19 measures.
However, just because something isn’t being enforced by the law, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do it. There is lots of official advice out there which you can follow in order to prevent COVID-19. Please also follow any measures put in place by your school, college or university. They are there to keep you and others safe.
For more information and to stay up to date with current COVID-19 measures and advice, go to: www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Hand Washing
Good hygiene was always vital to living a healthy life, but now it is more important than ever. Washing your hands after touching surfaces and before eating can make a massive difference in stopping the virus. It is also advised that you should avoid touching your face before washing your hands.
It is recommended by the NHS that you spend 20 seconds thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water. If you can’t get to a sink, carrying hand sanitiser with you is a great way to keep your hands clean. Remember, some sanitisers are more effective than others, so always read the label. According to the World Health Organisation, sanitisers with an alcohol content of 60% or more are most effective against COVID-19.
Social Distancing
The best distance from other people to avoid catching COVID-19 is 2 metres, however 1 metre is also acceptable. The closer you are to other people, especially people who are not wearing facemasks, the more likely it is that you will catch the virus.
In some situations, such as in a classroom, it is virtually impossible to be socially distanced all of the time. The best that we can do is stay socially distanced when given the opportunity and to wear a mask when we need to.
Unnecessary Mixing
It is best to avoid mixing with too many people. The more people that come in contact with you, the more likely it will be that either someone will spread the virus to you or you will spread it to lots of people if you have it.
Everyone wants to have fun, but clubbing and partying with lots of people puts everyone at more risk. It’s better to avoid these activities now than to deal with the consequences of catching COVID-19 and spreading it to other people later.
Symptoms
If you have any of the recognised COVID-19 symptoms, which includes a continuous cough, a high fever and loss of taste and smell, then you must not mix with other people. It is best to take a recognised COVID-19 test to find out for sure and to follow any further instructions that are given to you after your result has been reported.
PCR tests are the most effective at detecting COVID-19, however Lateral Flow tests can also be used. If you have symptoms, then it is best to do your test at home or book an appointment with a COVID test centre.
Vaccines
If you are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, then it is highly recommended that you book an appointment and try to get fully jabbed. Vaccines help your immune system to combat the virus, lessen the severity of symptoms and the more people that are vaccinated, the harder it is for the virus to spread.
If you would like to book a vaccination, please go to: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
Help and Advice
If you become very sick, don’t suffer in silence. COVID-19 can be very dangerous, especially to those who are deemed to be at high risk of complications. If you are having trouble breathing or feel extremely ill, do not hesitate to call 111 or in an emergency, call 999.
If you would like to know if you or someone you know is at high risk, then please go to: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/who-is-at-high-risk-from-coronavirus/
