Posted on Friday 29th April 2022
People in Staffordshire are urged to be sensible and not put others at risk if feeling unwell over the bank holiday weekend.
With largely dry weather predicted, many residents will be keen to visit friends and family, attend local events or travel with loved ones during the long weekend.
The advice for anybody displaying symptoms of Covid-19 or other respiratory illnesses is to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, especially those older or clinically vulnerable, until they are feeling better.
People can also minimise the risk of spreading infection by meeting outdoors or keeping indoor rooms well ventilated by opening windows and letting fresh air in.
Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Integrated Care, Dr Johnny McMahon, encouraged residents to be careful and considerate when making plans:
“I hope our residents have an enjoyable and safe bank holiday weekend, but please make the sensible decision and protect others if you begin to feel unwell with Covid or other respiratory illness symptoms.
“I know it’s tough to cancel plans, particularly when the weather is nice, but it could go a long way to protecting your loved ones and making sure there are plenty of times to be enjoyed with them in the future.”
While the main symptoms of Covid-19 are a new and continuous cough, sore throat and high temperature, common respiratory illness symptoms also include:
- shortness of breath;
- unexplained tiredness, lack of energy;
- muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise;
- not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry;
- headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual;
- sore throat, stuffy or runny nose;
- diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick
Anybody still in need of a first, second or booster vaccine can book an appointment or attend a walk-in clinic. Anybody aged 5 and over is eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine and anybody aged 16 and over is eligible for the booster jab. A ‘spring booster’ is also available to people over the age of 75 and those who are clinically vulnerable.
Information and guidance on living safely with Covid and respiratory infections can be found at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
More information on the vaccine and how to book can be found at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119.