Respiratory infections such as influenza (flu) and COVID-19, can spread easily and cause serious illness in some people. You may be infected with a respiratory virus and not have any symptoms but still pass infection onto others.
The risk of catching or passing on a respiratory infection is greatest when someone who is infected is physically close to, or sharing an enclosed and/or poorly ventilated space with other people. When someone with a respiratory viral infection breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release small particles that contain the virus. These particles can be breathed in or come into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The particles can also land on surfaces and be passed from person to person via touch. Germs from the hands can enter and infect the body when the person touches their nose, mouth or eyes.
There are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of respiratory and other infections and protect those at highest risk. Things you can choose to do are:
Get vaccinated – seasonal vaccinations are available for COVID-19, flu and other viruses. Find out more about what’s available for you at gov.im/vaccinations
Let fresh air in – if you’re indoors bringing fresh air in removes virus particles from the room
Remember good hygiene – cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands and clean your surroundings to reduce the spread of viruses, particularly after you have been in contact with a highly touched surface such as a regularly used door handle.
Consider wearing a face covering – if you are unwell and have to go out
Stay at home if you are unwell – this reduces the risk of passing an illness on to your friends, colleagues and others in your community.
Vaccination Programmes
Vaccination is available for those who are eligible to protect against becoming seriously ill or hospitalised from COVID-19, Flu and other viruses. You can also protect more vulnerable members of the community by getting vaccinated.
Let fresh air in if you meet indoors
The amount of respiratory virus in the air can build up in poorly ventilated areas. This increases the risk of spreading respiratory infections, especially if there are lots of infected people in the room. The virus can also remain in the air after an infected person has left.
Meeting outdoors vastly reduces the risk of airborne transmission, but this may not always be possible. If you’re indoors, you should let fresh air in to reduce the risk of catching or spreading a respiratory illness.
Bringing fresh air into a room and removing older stale air that contains virus particles reduces the chance of spreading a respiratory illness. The more fresh air that is brought inside, the quicker any airborne virus will be removed from the room.
Ventilation is most important if someone in your household has respiratory virus.
Good ventilation has also been linked to health benefits such as better sleep and fewer sick days off from work or school.
There is further advice on what you can do to improve ventilation.
Read more about the role of ventilation in controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Remember the basics of good hygiene
Following these basic rules of good hygiene will help to protect you and others from many other common infections:
- cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze
- wash your hands
- keep your surroundings clean
GermDefence was created by a team of doctors and scientists to give you advice that has been proven to reduce the spread of viruses in the home. It can help you plan how to protect yourself and members of your family from infection by flu and COVID-19.
Cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze
Coughing and sneezing increases the number of droplets and aerosols released by a person, the distance they travel and the time they stay in the air. If an infected person coughs or sneezes without covering their nose and mouth, it will significantly increase the risk of infecting others around them. Covering coughs and sneezes will help reduce the spread of particles carrying viruses, including those that cause coughs and colds.
Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze. Put used tissues in a bin and immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitiser. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your hand.
Wash or sanitise your hands
Hands touch many surfaces and can become contaminated with viruses and other germs. Once contaminated, hands can transfer these to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the germs can enter your body and infect you.
Washing or sanitising your hands removes viruses and other germs, so you are less likely to become infected if you touch your face. Using soap and water is the most effective way to clean your hands, especially if they are visibly dirty. Hand sanitiser can be used when soap and water are not available. You should do this regularly throughout the day.
It is particularly important to wash your hands:
- after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose
- before you eat or handle food
- after coming into contact with surfaces touched by many others, such as handles, handrails and light switches
- after coming into contact with shared areas such as kitchens and bathrooms
- when you return home
Visit our Handwashing page for more guidance.
Clean your surroundings
Surfaces and belongings can be contaminated with germs when people who are infected touch them or cough, talk or breathe over them. Cleaning surfaces will reduce the risk of you catching or spreading infections.
Clean surfaces in your home often. Pay particular attention to surfaces that are touched frequently, such as handles, light switches, work surfaces and electronic devices such as remote controls.
Consider wearing a face covering
Wearing a face covering or face mask can reduce the number of particles containing viruses that are released from the mouth and nose of someone who is infected with a respiratory infection. Face coverings can also protect the person wearing the face covering from becoming infected by some viruses. Using a face covering does not replace the need to follow the guidance on ventilation and good hygiene.
If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness and you need to leave your home, wearing a well-fitting face covering or a face mask can help reduce the spread of respiratory infection. See further advice in the guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection.
Face coverings for children under the age of 3 are not recommended for safety reasons.
Stay at home if you are unwell
It is important that you stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19 You can pass on the infection to others, even if you have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
Read more on What to do if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19.
There is additional guidance for people who have been informed by Manx Care that they are at highest risk of becoming severely unwell and who might be eligible for new COVID-19 treatments.
If you feel unwell but do not have symptoms of a respiratory illness, you may still have an illness which could be passed on to other people. Staying at home until you feel better reduces the risk that you will pass on an illness to your friends, colleagues, and others in your community. This will help reduce the burden on our health services.
Visit gov.im for Guidance on managing infections in schools and workplaces
The above guidance has been adapted from Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19 – GOV.UK