Stay ventilated if seeing friends during wet weekend, say experts

Health officials across Wigan & St Helens are urging the public to keep fresh air at the front of their minds over the weekend.

It’ll be the first weekend in months that we’ve been allowed to meet up with friends and family indoors.

New government guidance, which came into force earlier in the week, now means groups of up to 6 people, or people from two households can see each other inside.

But, ahead of a rainy forecast, officials are urging people to stay well ventilated if they are coming together indoors.

Professor Kate Ardern, the Public Health Director for Wigan said:

"Don't think it's gone away."

"Continue to practice good COVID personal security, so hands, face, space and keep the windows open if you're going to visit your friends."

"I'm encouraging that message to get out and to be really front and centre."

"I think it needs to be a positive thing, isn't it to say don't do something. It's about saying you can see friends now but get your windows open."

"So I think it's important to put some positive messages and I think ventilation is definitely part of that."

"The weather is a little better so keeping your windows open in the home is really important and in the workplace as well."

"That's also formed part of the engagement we do in Wigan with the local businesses and Trading Standards folks."

"Our teams are being absolutely brilliant in engaging with local businesses to help them reopen safely."

Ruth Du Plessis, St Helens' Director of Public Health added:

"It's the usual things that we all know."

"It's your hand washing that makes a difference, as well as ventilation, keeping windows and doors open, even if it's raining."

"All of these things that really can help to reduce the risk of the spread."

"They do work and we have seen them work, we have seen the impacts of people doing those things."

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