HSE urges people with respiratory symptoms not to visit hospitals

Public Health West is encouraging the public to ensure they have no respiratory symptoms prior to visiting hospitals and long term care facilities.

With cases of RSV, flu and winter viruses increasing, people in Galway are being urged to make sure they don’t have symptoms such as a cough, sneezing, sore throat or breathlessness before visiting vulnerable people.

Public Health West issued the following advice:

If visiting someone who is vulnerable

–       Ensure you do not have respiratory symptoms

–       Wear a face mask

–       Wash or sanitise your hands regularly

–       Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces regularly 

Take these extra actions to avoid respiratory infection

–       Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes

–       Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow

–       Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccine if eligible

–       Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds – especially after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, and before eating

–       Wear a face mask in crowded areas

–       Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces regularly

–       Consider meeting outdoors in the fresh air as there is greater risk of infection in enclosed places

 What to do if you have symptoms

–       Stay at home when you are sick

–       Stay away from those who are vulnerable

–       Contact your GP if you need advice on how to manage your symptom

For more advice see: https://www2.hse.ie/under-the-weather/