Covid has been a complete nightmare for friends and families trying to get together for Christmas over the last few years.
From compulsory face masks to bubbles, to Christmas being all but cancelled in 2020. Covid has been the bane of our lives.
With the recent confirmed case of a form of swine flu being detected in the UK, it might have brought back all those unhappy memories.
Luckily, that case did not prove serious and another global pandemic looks at bay for now, but what about Covid this Christmas?
What the current government advice is:
There are no COVID-19 restrictions in the UK. However, if you have COVID-19 you should try to stay at home.
Most people cannot get free COVID-19 tests. You can buy tests in shops but you cannot report the result to the NHS.
You can get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the NHS.
You do not need to take a test or quarantine when you arrive in the UK. You should check travel advice for any country you are travelling to.
What the NHS advice is:
What to do if you have symptoms of COVID-19
You may be able to look after yourself at home if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19.
Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either:
- have a high-temperature
- do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities
You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.
If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.
What to do if you have tested positive
You are no longer required to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you have symptoms.
But if you or your child have tested positive for COVID-19:
- try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day the test was taken if you or your child are under 18 years old – children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults
- try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test if you are 18 years old or over
- avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day you took your test
Most people feel better within a few days or weeks of their first COVID-19 symptoms and make a full recovery within 12 weeks.
For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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