How to reduce household transmission of COVID-19

How to reduce household transmission of COVID-19

As Warwickshire schools prepare to break up for the Easter holidays and the COVID-19 guidance has changed to allow up to 6 people or two households to meet outdoors, it is important to remind families about how they can stay as safe as possible over the break by reducing any potential COVID-19 transmission.

Below is an article that can be shared in your newsletters with information and tips to reduce coronavirus transmissions within and between households.

 

Staying safe over the Easter holidays

We’re about to start the Easter break and as COVID-19 restrictions ease we can now meet up in groups of up to 6 people or two households outdoors. As set out in the government roadmap, 12 April may also see further restrictions being eased and the opening of indoor leisure, hospitality, outdoor attractions and the long-awaited reopening of hairdressers and barbers to trim those lockdown hair styles. For full guidance, visit gov.uk/coronavirus.   

With the changes to restrictions, you may decide to see and meet up with more people outside. To help keep yourself and those around you safe, remember hands, face, space and you are encouraged to get a COVID-19 test twice a week, even during the school holidays. If you do not have access to at home testing kits, you can also book an appointment at a community testing site. For more information about community testing, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/covidtesting. Students and their households are encouraged to test on Thursdays and Sundays weekly during the Easter break, especially during the final week before returning to school. For more information on testing for households of pupils and school staff, visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/covid-19-testing-warwickshire/testing-dont-covid-19-symptoms/3.

There are also steps you can take at home to reduce any potential transmission of COVID-19 in your household. Remember to regularly wash your hands and clean surfaces and allow fresh air into your homes to keep them ventilated.

If anyone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, everyone will need to self-isolate for 10 days.  If someone in the household has COVID-19 symptoms (high temperature, new continuous cough, or loss of taste and smell) or tests positive for COVID-19 you can minimise spread of the virus:

• Try to keep 2 metres apart.
• Avoid using shared spaces at the same time and keep them clean.
• Sleep in a separate bed.
• Wear face coverings when you are in the same room.
• Use separate towels.
• Open windows for ventilation.

And don’t forget, when you’re out and about:

• Hands – Regularly wash your hands.
• Face - Wear a face covering if you can, when removing face coverings don’t touch your face with your hands.
• Space – Keep at least 2 metres apart from people outside your household or bubble.

If we all follow this guidance and take every opportunity to reduce transmission, we are more likely to move to the next steps of the roadmap which will see restrictions continue to lift.

For further information visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/coronavirus