'Ventilation is key' TV Doctor's advice for students heading back to uni
Dr Amir Khan says schools, colleges and universities must keep their spaces ventilated to suppress the Covid virus
TV Doctor Amir Khan has warned students the risk of catching Covid has not gone away, as universities reopen their doors for a new academic year.
Speaking at the launch of his new book, 'The Doctor Will See You Now', Dr Amir warns that it is going to be a "tricky winter".
This month will mark the return of lectures for many universities across the UK, after lecture halls closed because of the pandemic.
And with a record number of students flocking to university this year, Dr Khan has expressed his concern at the lack of double jabbed young adults.
Difficult autumn and winter ahead
He told heat radio "There are a few things that are worrying me about the coming autumn, winter period. We certainly don't have enough time to fully vaccinate younger people before schools, colleges and universities open.
"My first bit of advice is the obvious one, when you get called up for your first or second vaccination - go for it."
"I think it's going to be a tricky winter period to navigate through, because we're going to have COVID, plus all these other viruses.
"We're going to see an increase in mixing, we're going to see an increase in numbers of the coronavirus. I think that is definitely going to happen. "
"What we need to see is if that translates into people becoming very unwell and needing hospital. That is going to have a real adverse effect on their education that has already been effected by the pandemic."
Dr Khan has advised students to be cautious and keep their social spaces well ventilated.
"Ventilation is key", Dr Khan told us. "This is where the government need to step in and give advice. Putting the onus on students is a bit much, I think the onus has to be on those in charge of those organisations and the government.
"We know that this virus is airborne, that's its main route of transmission. We're talking about small particles that float in the air for hours, you can breath them in. That's why ventilation and air filters are so important in schools, colleges and universities. Open up window and door, it's far more important than cleaning surfaces."
Real life stories from inside the NHS
Dr Khan has spent 15 years working as a GP in one of the UK's busiest surgeries, and his book encapsulates the strain the pandemic has had on our NHS.
When reflecting on the past 18 months, Dr Khan said: "It's been really tough. Both mentally and physically, it's been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Right from the start of the pandemic we we're going in to nursing homes, seeing patients with COVID-type symptoms in our red hub sites. That was a real challenge.
"And then in a switch of things, in a positive way, we've been running a vaccination hub from our surgery here in Bradford, and that's been a completely different set of emotions. Really positive in a lot of ways. The vaccination program has been exceptional, that's thanks to my colleagues at the NHS."
Dr Amir Khan has also advised that students become aware of friends that may be clinically vulnerable to the virus in order to keep them safe.
The full interviewwith Mick Coyle is available on Youtube. 'The Doctor Will See You Now'is out now.