With over 60 countries reporting cases of Covid-19, preventing the spread is a responsibility we all need to take on.
Advice re novel coronavirus (2019-nCov)
- Access the latest information and advice from GOV.UK to protect against coronavirus
- Links to an informative live map tracking the statistics of cases and places
- Further information about the UK govt. response
The aim is to take highly precautionary measures to limit the potential spread of infection.
We’re taking this opportunity to share advice from Public Health England to help prevent Covid-19 transmission. There are basic steps we can take as individuals to help protect against this virus. Moreover, UK health departments are working closely with the World Health Organization and the international community.
A high temperature, coughing and/or difficulty breathing are symptoms linked to Covid-19. There are, however, many other illnesses that have the same symptoms.
Current government advice
If you’ve returned from risk zones overseas or been in a situation where you may have contracted Covid-19, please follow Public Health England guidelines:
- self-isolate
- notify the health services by phoning NHS 111
- take steps to avoid contact with other people
- not go to the local GP or hospital
Our advice to dental patients
We recommend that if you’re feeling unwell you should defer your dental appointment until you’re better.
Postponing your appointment will protect you while you’re vulnerable, and others too.
At this time of the year, viruses of many types thrive. Avoiding contact with other people helps prevent germs spreading.
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- Don’t let missed appointments end your NHS registration
- Call your local pharmacy for advice on health care and medication
Catch it! Bin it! Kill it!
The NHS shares the message of preventive hygiene each winter. During the cold weather, people are more susceptible to viral infections, such as colds and flu. Coronavirus spreads in the same way as these airborne viruses and the same precautions help protect us.
For a virus to thrive, it depends on finding a host. As the virus can survive for a few hours independent of a host, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes and then disposing of them thoughtfully makes a difference. Do does good hand hygiene.
The current health campaign advises the public to:
- always carry tissues and use them to catch coughs and sneezes, then bin the tissue
- wash hands with soap and water, or use sanitiser gel, to kill germs
Vaccination programmes
While experts are working on new medication to tackle the novel coronavirus, it’s worth remembering how valuable vaccination development and distribution programmes are. The chart below shows how anti-virals have changed world health over the last two hundred years.
Recommended for vulnerable groups of people, vaccinations range from flu injections for the elderly to the new initiative to vaccinate boys as well as girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) linked with cancers.
Moreover, vaccinations to protect babies and children from common illnesses have significantly reduced childhood mortality rates.
We’re fortunate to live in an age where serious contagious viral infections, such as measles, mumps, polio and smallpox, are controlled by vaccinations. Their benefits to our society should never be taken for granted.
