Living safely with Covid - get vaccinated and stay home if you’re unwell

Last week, the government announced a change to the availability of Covid-19 tests as part of its new living safely with Covid plan. 

For most of us, this means that we can’t get Covid tests for free, even if we have symptoms. But we can buy them online and from some pharmacies and shops. 

We are returning to a common sense approach to dealing with respiratory illnesses like coughs, colds and sore throats.

That means that if we have symptoms of a respiratory infection like Covid-19 and a high temperature, or do not feel well enough, we should stay at home and not go to work, school or meet friends until we are better.

As we learn to live safely with coronavirus, these are the important things we can all do to help reduce the risk of catching Covid-19 and passing it on to others:

• Get vaccinated.
• Let fresh air in when meeting other people indoors.
• Practise good hygiene by washing our hands, covering our coughs and sneezes 
• Stay at home if you are unwell
• Wear a face covering or a face mask in crowded or enclosed spaces.

It’s never too late to get vaccinated

Everyone over the age of five years-old can now benefit from the protection given by the Covid-19 vaccines and the spring booster programme for people aged over 75 has started. 

It’s important to keep up with your vaccination doses, and not forget to book another appointment if you had to cancel one because you had Covid-19. Visit the South West London NHS website to check when to get your next vaccination after catching Covid-19.

If you’re due your next vaccine dose, are thinking about taking your children to be vaccinated, or have yet to start, please don’t wait any longer. It’s really important to get the protection the Covid-19 vaccines give as soon as you can. Book online or visit one of the local walk-in and pop-up vaccination clinics on a day and time that suits you.

And if you’re unsure or want more information about the vaccines - that’s ok. The friendly team at the St Nicholas Shopping Centre vaccination clinic can answer your questions about the vaccines and the virus, with no obligation to get the jab. You can walk-in and ask to speak to someone, or book an appointment for a chat with one of the Sutton vaccination team.