Staying safe when out and about

This article has been medically approved by Pharmacist Sumaiya Patel - GPhC Reg No: 2215078

With pubs and restaurants reopening across the country, you may be enjoying getting back to some sort of normality. In our article below, we’ll look at some ways to keep yourself protected while out and about.

Know the rules and follow them

Current restrictions allow pubs and restaurants to open for customers to sit outside. You are only allowed to go inside to go to the toilet, place an order, or pay.

At any premises serving alcohol, all customers must order, eat, and drink while seated at a table outside and they must be in a group of 6 people or 2 households. Children of all ages are included in the count, but professional carers are not - as long as they are working. As well as this, every customer over the age of 16 must check in with the NHS Test and Trace app or provide contact details.

When not seated, for example when being shown to your table or going to the toilet, you must be wearing a face covering (unless exempt) and observe social distancing.

In England, if coronavirus targets are met, from the 17th May customers will be able to eat and drink indoors. While indoors the rule of 6 must still be followed, groups outdoors can have up to 30 people.

All restrictions could be lifted on the 21st June, which will allow nightclubs to reopen.

Keep yourself safe

You’re probably aware by now that you should be frequently washing your hands, especially before eating. Unfortunately, just because you are remaining vigilant does not mean everyone else around you is.

Where possible, try not to touch things while out in public, especially things like stair rails, light switches and door handles. If this is unavoidable, keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth until you have a chance to wash them. The mucus membrane in your eyes and mouth is the ideal place for bacteria and viruses to make their entrance and, in turn, make you unwell.

Hand sanitiser should never be used to replace washing your hands with soap and hot water, but it can provide an extra layer of protection and peace of mind. If you are washing your hands in a public toilet, you may want to use hand sanitiser afterwards. The surfaces in a public bathroom, particularly the door handle, can quickly put germs back onto your clean hands if people have not been washing their hands before leaving. Additionally, you might want to use hand sanitizer after sneezing or coughing into your hands, so you don’t leave bacteria on the surfaces you touch on the way to wash them.

Additionally, while staff are sure to be doing their best to sanitise surfaces between customers, you might want to consider carrying your own antibacterial wipes for peace of mind. That way, you can be sure that your table, chair, and other surfaces have been cleaned to a standard that you are happy with.

Staying healthy

Getting plenty of sleep, eating more fruit and vegetables and staying active are all ways to keep your body in the best possible condition to fight off any bacteria you might pick up. You may also want to consider taking supplements that contain Echinacea or Elderberry as these are great for fighting illness.

While you may have been looking forward to that first cold pint after lockdown, alcohol consumption compromises the body's immune system and increases the risk of negative health outcomes. [1] Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol may also cause you to lose your inhibitions, meaning you may be less likely to follow the government guidance.

Many people reach for a glass of Berocca to combat the effects of a nasty hangover, but Berocca may also have benefits for your immune system. It is packed full of vitamins and minerals, including B1 and B2 to help support energy release and B12 to help reduce tiredness and fatigue. These are the superheroes that put your hangover to bed. However, in addition to this, Berocca contains Vitamin C and Zinc, which help to support the immune system.

[1] https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/news/news/2020/04/alcohol-does-not-protect-against-covid-19-access-should-be-restricted-during-lockdown