How To Avoid Colds, Flu and COVID If You Are Living In A Shared House

When you live in close quarters with others, sickness and disease can spread rapidly. And while most colds, flu and COVID are not serious, they are inconvenient and uncomfortable and sometimes lead to other complications. Here are a few hints and tips that may help you to avoid colds, flu and COVID if you are living in a shared house.

**Contact New Mills Properties if you suspect you have COVID, if your next of kin details have changed recently or if your rent payments are likely to be interrupted because you are unable to work due to illness.**

How To Avoid Colds And Flu If You Are Living In A Shared House

The government is currently advising that one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from colds, flu and Covid is to wash your hands regularly, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you have hand gel that is at least 60% alcohol, you can use it when you are out and about. But the soapy nature of soap breaks the oily surface of the virus and prevents it from sticking to your skin.

It is a advisable to wash hands regularly but especially

• after travelling
• after you blow your nose, cough or sneeze
• before you eat or handle food

And we would add to that and advise that you wash your hands after;

• being with someone who is infectious,
• touching rubbish (especially a bag that contains used tissues)
• using the toilet
• handling money
• touching anything that may have been handled by someone you don’t know, including post, shopping, deliveries etc.

Good advice on how to wash your hands thoroughly is available on the CDC website

Cleaning

Cleaning of communal rooms can be a controversial issue in shared houses. We ensure that communal rooms are cleaned every two weeks but during a time of illness shared surfaces will need to be cleaned much more frequently.

• Use cleaner with a clean disposable or paper towel on surfaces before and after preparing food
• Wash cooking and eating utilities thoroughly in hot soapy water
• Clean bathrooms, wash basins and toilets regularly, particularly focussing on handles and taps
• Clean handrails, door handles and light switches regularly

In addition

• Do not eat from a plate or bowl that someone else has been using
• Do not eat from cutlery that someone else has been using
• Do not drink from a cup or glass that someone else has been using
• Do not share towels
• Avoid touching your face, nose and eyes
• There is more good advice available on www.gov.uk and www.nhs.uk

If you catch a cold or flu

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the crook of your elbow
• Throw tissues away in a bin with a liner in it and empty the bin regularly
• Routinely wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• If you are feeling very poorly phone 111 and seek medical advice
• Regularly wash bedding in the washing machine
• Do not use someone else’s towels, washcloths etc.

As a courtesy to others

• Stay in your room as much as possible – try to avoid face to face contact closer than 1 metre for more than 15 minutes
• Open a window to allow fresh air to circulate in the room and reduce the likelihood of condensation
• Use a surface spray to clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces after you have used them
• Avoid spending time in public places – use a delivery service for any shopping you require
• Avoid using public transport or taxis
• Wear a face mask when you are in crowded or enclosed places

If you catch COVID

It is important that you follow the latest government rules. These can be found at www.gov.uk

You must let all of your housemates know that you have COVID and ask them to also follow the latest government rules for those who have close contact with someone who has COVID.

You should also contact us at lettings@newmillsproperties.com to let us know. This will ensure that we do not arrange any non-emergency visits until after your quarantine period. And any emergency contractors required to visit can take additional precautions.

If someone in your shared house is unwell

Look out for your housemates and be kind, helping them out if they need it. Show them the same care and courtesy that you would like to receive if you are unwell. Encourage them to take care of themselves and to get professional medical advice if they need to.

We recommend that you have a house meeting and agree a plan for your house so that you are ready to support one another if necessary.

** Please note that we are not medical practitioners. This guidance is meant to be common sense guidance that encourages housemates to discuss the subject of how to avoid colds flu and COVID if you are living in a shared house and make plans to look out for one another. If you become unwell you should seek advice from a medical practitioner and any advice given by them must supersede this advice. **

For more advice about living in a shared house see 10 Tips For Shared Living.

Main photo courtesy of Brittany Colette