Good hygiene ‘really relevant’ to tackle new strain of virus
WITH a highly transmissible strain of Covid-19 being seen with increasing frequency in the UK, islanders were reminded that good hygiene practices are some of the best defences against infection.
Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink spoke about how the new variant of the virus has been found to be 70% more transmissible.
‘In some regions in the UK it accounts for 60% of [Covid-19] cases and it is spreading rapidly,’ she said.
Evidence shows that non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as hand-washing, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ guidance, respecting personal space and staying at home if you are unwell, are the best ways to stop transmission.
‘All of these practices are really relevant while we get to understand this new variant virus,’ she said.
‘It’s important that we all adhere to that and emphasise the need for it in the Bailiwick.’
She spoke about what a favourable position the island was in, with no evidence of community seeding, but stressed the importance of keeping up the hard work and not letting it slip.
Health & Social Care president Al Brouard said that with people returning to the island after seeing loved ones in the UK or further afield, hand hygiene and adhering properly to self-isolation guidance was imperative to keeping the island safe.
