PEOPLE are being reminded to protect themselves and others from cold and flu germs this winter.
Tissues should be carried at all times and used to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
They should then be disposed of as soon as possible before cleaning your hands with soap and water.
Arif Mahmood, consultant in public health for NHS Herefordshire, said: “Cold and flu germs can live on some surfaces for hours which means they can be easily transmitted via hands but just a few simple steps can help prevent the germs from spreading.
“Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, put the tissue in the bin – don’t save it to reuse – and clean your hands as quickly as possible.
“Following these simple steps makes a huge difference in the fight against common colds and the more serious flu virus.”
Seasonal flu is responsible for the deaths of about 8,000 people a year – many of them elderly.
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