Protecting Yourself and Others

Wash and dry your hands frequently.
Wash your hands for at least 20 secounds and dry them for 20 secounds, or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Wash your hands before preparing food and eating or smoking. After coughing, sneezing, wiping children's noses, visiting the toilet or changing nappies.

Cover you coughs and sneezes.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put you used tissue in the bin. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve- not your hands.

Remember to wash your hands afterwards.

Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. Germ spread that way.

Stay away from other people if you or they are sick.
If you are unwell, stay away from other people.

Try to sat away fro sick people to reduce the spread of germs.

Reduce time spent in crowded areas.

Contamination and cleaning.
Regularly clean flat surfaces such as bathroom sinks, bedside cabinets, desk and table tops where germs can live for up to 48 hours. Wipe them down with a household disinfectant.

If you've got flu symptoms.
Stay at home until you are well. That is not sneezing ad cughing as this is how the virus spreads. this is usually three to four days after symptoms start, but may be up to a week.

If your condition worsens.
Seek medical advice by phoning Healthline on 0800 611 116 or your healthcare provider first before you go to avoid potentially infecting others.