PHYSICAL HEALTH & SPORT

Although the vaccine is highly effective - more than 80% after two doses – one dose is only around 33% effective.

Make sure you book both doses to get the maximum protection the vaccine offers.

TEST REGULARLY

Everyone can do their bit in curbing the spread of COVID-19 by testing regularly. The more cases of infection that can be identified and isolated the harder we make it for the virus to spread throughout Suffolk.

Used regularly, lateral flow tests can help pick up the presence of the virus in a person. It is important to test regularly even if you have no symptoms, as 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not show any symptoms. If you are regularly attending school, college, or further education, you can test regularly to help keep yourself, your friends and your family safe. The more people either with the virus or who have been exposed to it that we can identify and isolate, the less chance there is of them passing it on to others who may be only partially vaccinated or who have not had the vaccine at all and are at risk.

Lateral flow kits can be ordered online at GOV.UK, by calling NHS 119, you can get them from any library or pharmacy in Suffolk.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, including a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, you must isolate immediately and book a PCR test online at GOV.UK.

Remember: Hands, Face, Space and let fresh air in!

There are simple things we can all do to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

HANDS

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or use a hand sanitiser. Wash your hands for 20 approximately seconds. Some good times to wash your hands are: • When you arrive at school, college or University, and when you get home, • before and after you eat or prepare food • after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing • after using the toilet

FACE

If you can, wear something that covers your nose and mouth in places where it's hard to stay away from other people. There are some places where you must wear a face covering, such as: • on public transport • in shops • when you go to hospital appointments or visit someone in hospital

SPACE

Stay at least 2 meters (3 steps) apart from people you are not meeting with. The fewer people you meet, particularly over a short space of time, the lower your chances are of picking up and spreading COVID-19. There is a chance you might still get or spread COVID-19 even if you have a vaccine, so it's important to continue to follow all social distancing guidance.

FRESH AIR

Let fresh air into your home by opening windows, doors and air vents as much as possible. An infected person releases COVID-19 particles into the air by coughing, talking or simply breathing.

When you are in enclosed spaces the infected particles can build up over time and remain suspended in the air, so those in the room are more likely to breathe in the infected particles, especially if there is no ventilation. As we begin to meet others inside, it’s so important we open windows so fresh air can disperse and blow COVID-19 particles away. Remember: when you let friends in, let fresh air in too.

Isolation – if you have symptoms of COVID-19, or come into contact with somebody who later tests positive, you must isolate immediately. This means you: • do not go to work, school or public places – work from home if you can • do not go on public transport or use taxis • do not go out to get food and medicine – order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to your home • do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care • do not go out to exercise – exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one

Visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus for more information about COVID-19

FOOD

CO-EDITOR AARON BEAVIS

RUBY

CHOCOLATE: FAB OR FAD?

BY AARON BEAVIS There’s this thing called chocolate. You might have heard of it. Until recently, it came in three major different forms, namely milk, white and dark. Friends can be made and lost over which chocolate you like the most or least. My sister won’t speak to me because I defended dark chocolate. The discussion became quite different for me when I first tried ruby chocolate however. Kit-Kat released a ruby chocolate edition a few years ago and this was before most people knew about it so I was amused to see a pink Kit-Kat assuming it was just coloured white chocolate. I was shocked to learn it was in fact something much bigger than that.

Ruby chocolate is just hitting the mainstream market. You can now quite easily find it in many forms: bar, ice lolly, hot drink and more. Many big brands have released products incorporating ruby chocolate which means Kit-Kat was ahead of the curve I guess. However, it’s hard to know whether this is just a trend or in fact a new mainstay of the chocolate world that the next generation will be shocked to learn wasn’t around when we were young kids.

It started being developed around 2004 and was first unveiled about a decade later in 2017. In the 4 years since, it has quickly risen in popularity. It has an almost sour flavour which is oddly reminiscent of berries and I guess you could say it takes up a new corner of the flavour quadrant. Milk is the standard, dark represents bitter, white represents sweet and ruby represents sour. I guess we’re just waiting for the discovery of salt chocolate now. Anyway, it’s also distinct for its colour which is a pretty vibrant pink considering its all-natural colour.

I personally enjoy the taste, especially in hot chocolate form, but I theorise that the chocolate’s presence as an aesthetic treat for the eyes is also a big contributor to success. In an age of social media moguls and Instagram stars, how pleasing something is to look at is extremely important for any