What have we learnt from the Covid pandemic to help us avoid flu?

Flu and other respiratory viruses spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe – the just like coronaviruses. The same social distancing and hygiene precautions that protect against Covid also protect us against flu.

An important lesson that will serve us well in future is to stay away from other people when you have respiratory symptoms. It has long been a British tradition to carry on regardless of minor symptoms, but we really should be much more conscious of the need to protect those around us from infection – both at home and at work.

Encouraging employees to stay home if they are unwell is a good starting point. If you must go out, wearing a mask will protect others you may come into contact with. If you have symptoms of respiratory infection, covid, colds or flu, It should be considered a common courtesy to wear a mask in all settings so that infection does not pass on.

Covid-19 highlighted the dangers and severity of respiratory infection, and the pandemic response demonstrated the ability and importance of vaccines in controlling them.