How to maximise your personal hygiene in a busy city

Living and travelling in a busy hub city such as London can sometimes be overwhelming in normal circumstances. Considering the recent pandemic, it is doubly important to remain safe and stay on top of your personal hygiene.

COVID-19 is primarily spread through the viral droplets from an infected person and can remain on surfaces for a period of time. Here are our top tips to help you minmise your chances of coming into contact with the virus: 

• Wear a face mask when required to do so, and consider wearing a face mask at all times when leaving your accommodation if you want, to protect yourself and others. 
• Do not touch your face as this may bring viral particles on your hands close to areas where they can be breathed in on your face.
• Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds at a time. 
• Carry hand sanitiser or make use of available hand sanitisers that can often now be found in many public spaces. 
• Keep a 2-meter distance from others wherever you can.
• Check in on your neighbours if you're on campus in halls to make sure they’re alright. If you have any concerns, inform a member of staff or a Student Residence Adviser.
• Remain indoors and self-isolate if you develop any symptoms, as per NHS guidelines (or whatever the local recommendations are if you're overseas) 
• Adhere to government health and safety guidelines, which can be found on the GOV.UK website if you're in the UK.
• Visit the Keeping Safe on Campus website if you're able to come back to campus, and make sure you follow UCL's own safety procedures. You can access the website here. 

Much more information about UCL's response to coronavirus, including what to do if you develop symptoms while on campus, can be found in our coronavirus FAQs here. 

Last revised: 8 September 2021

Intisar Salah, PhD Chemistry student and Student Blog Contributor