The COVID–Code: Working together to keep Wales safe

Always:

1. Stay at home (self-isolate) if you feel ill; if you have COVID-19 symptoms get a PCR test.
2. Self-isolate if you have COVID-19, or have been advised to do so by NHS Test Trace Protect.
3. Provide as much support as you can to help other people self-isolate.
4. Get all of your COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, and encourage those around you to get theirs too.

Where possible:

5. Minimise the number of face-to-face contacts you have, and the time spent with them.
6. Meet-up outside, but if you are indoors, open doors and windows.
7. Wear a face covering in crowded, and indoor, public spaces.
8. Wash/sanitise your hands regularly and always sneeze into your elbow.
9. Work from home when you can.

Whilst one action on its own may not stop the virus spreading, the combination of steps in the COVID-Code will prevent transmission if we each do our bit we will keep Wales safe.

Living alongside coronavirus

The COVID vaccine gives us hope.  However being vaccinated doesn’t mean you are fully protected. Even after you’ve had both doses of the vaccine you may still give COVID to someone else.

Even if you’ve been vaccinated you should continue to do these things to protect yourself and the people around you.

If we all remember to do these things every day as we go about our lives, it really will make a difference:

• Keep a safe distance from others
• Regular handwashing
• Wear a face covering where required
• Increase ventilation and let fresh air in
• Use the NHS COVID Pass to attend large events and venues
• Socialise safely as society opens up
• Keep indoor areas well ventilated
• Self-isolate if you have any COVID symptoms, or if you’re asked to by a contact tracer
• Take a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 if you are identified as a contact and are fully vaccinated or under 18
• Book a test if you have any COVID symptom, however mild
• Get fully vaccinated to protect yourself from COVID-19
• Download and use the NHS COVID-19 app
• Take rapid COVID tests twice a week if you don’t have any symptoms

How to reduce my risk

It’s important to remember that almost one-in-three people with coronavirus don’t show symptoms.  Whenever we come together, there’s always a risk that the virus will come too.

There are steps you can take to reduce the risk to you and others:

Fresh air and ventilation

Fresh air can help to reduce the spread. Coronavirus spreads through airborne particles when we breathe and talk, and even more when laughing, shouting or exercising. Doing any of these things inside, in a poorly ventilated space, increases the risk even more. Being outdoors, or opening windows and doors if you’re inside, can help to decrease the number of infectious particles hanging around.

Outdoors is safer than indoors

If you meet up with people in your garden, you can reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading by not sharing crockery or cutlery, keeping social distancing and limit who  goes inside. Allowing someone inside your home, even for a few minutes, increases the risk of catching or spreading the virus for everyone in your household.

Reduce the number of people you meet

We all want to meet our friends again.  But think about what is the most sensible thing for you to do to protect your family, friends and your community. Limiting how many different people you see helps keep you, your family, and friend’s safe.  It’s less risky to see the same one or two people regularly than to see lots of different people occasionally. By only meeting a few people, everyone’s contacts are less and the virus will find it harder to spread.  

Reduce face-to-face time with other people

The main way coronavirus spreads is through close contact with an infected person. So meeting face-to-face increases the risk of getting and giving coronavirus – the shorter the time, the lower the risk.   The NHS Covid-19 App will let you know if you have come into contact with someone who later tests positive for coronavirus. More than 25 million people are using the app like this to keep them safe. Your privacy is protected, so nobody, including the government, will know who you are or where you are.

Washing your hands

Washing your hands with soap and water, or regularly using hand sanitiser when you don’t have access to soap and water, helps stop the virus spreading. Our hands touch many surfaces throughout the day, and this can help the virus to move around. If you have the virus on your hands, you can transfer it to other surfaces or to your eyes, nose or mouth. This is one way that viruses can enter your body and infect you. Washing or sanitising your hands removes viruses and other germs, so you are less likely to spread them or to become infected.

Social distancing is the best way to stop coronavirus spreading

Staying at least 2 metres away from people you do not live with or who are not in your support bubble, can still reduce the chances of the virus spreading. Choosing not to share a lift, choosing less busy times, and using a face covering still all help to reduce the risk to you and others.  

If you become infected keep your distance from other members of your household as much as possible, especially if they are clinically extremely vulnerable.