Reducing covid and flu transmission

Hand hygiene and face masks

Prior to Covid-19, increasing attention was being paid to ways of reducing transmission of flu and colds. Many lessons have now been learnt from coronavirus. This has shown how good hygiene practice, as well as social distancing and ventilation, can also prevent transmission of other respiratory viruses, such as colds and flu. 

Routine handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds reduces the transmission of colds, flu and coronavirus. Ethanol-based hand sanitisers can be used if immediate access to soap and water is difficult in everyday settings. 

Cold viruses and both SARS-CoV-2 and the influenza virus are susceptible to alcohol in formulations of greater than 60 per cent ethanol. Hand sanitisers are widely used in healthcare environments and, since the Covid pandemic, use is now commonplace in shops and domestic settings. The rationale is that these viruses can survive for up to 72 hours on hard surfaces and for several hours on the skin. 

Coronavirus survives longer than the cold or flu virus. Touching contaminated hands, surfaces and objects can transfer the virus, and washing hands or using hand sanitiser as soon after exposure as possible is important to reduce transmission. People should be advised not to touch their eyes, nose or mouth if their hands are not clean, but touching the face is a normal, regular habit and may be difficult to suppress. People should use tissues to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and should put used tissues in a bin as soon as possible. 

Wearing a face mask covering the nose and mouth whenever it is hard to stay away from people, such as in shops or on public transport, reduces transmission of Covid-19. Currently this is voluntary. Face masks reduce the chances of spreading viruses to others and FFP2 masks are more effective than cloth face coverings or simple ‘surgical’ masks. Keeping a distance as much as possible is also a reasonable precaution – ideally two metres or more. Ventilation has proved important by opening windows, doors and air vents, whenever this can be done.

Conclusion

Key developments in 2022 include further mutations in the omicron variant, community availability of antivirals for highest risk patients, and alteration in national vaccine policy to enable a further Covid-19 booster jab and widen the patient cohort to receive a flu jab. Pharmacy teams will continue to play important roles in advice and explanations to patients/family members, signposting, referral and provision of vaccinations.