Ministry of Health is encouraging people to get flu vaccinations and practice good hygiene as the winter season brings colder temperatures.

Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health has encouraged people to protect themselves and others from influenza (flu) circulating due to colder winter temperatures.

Cook Islands Meteorological Service reports Rarotonga's lowest temperature this month was 17 degrees Celsius, recorded last Thursday.

Temperatures this week have been hitting 20-23 degrees Celsius especially at night.

According to the weather office climate report, last month’s lowest minimum temperature was 15.8 degrees Celsius recorded on June 7 and highest was 22 on June 15.

The Met Service’s Early Action Rainfall Watch report also indicated high chances of rain and wet conditions for Suwarrow, Nassau and Pukapuka as well as Manihiki, Rakahanga and Penrhyn. This is expected to be experienced until August.

TMO advises people to get their annual flu jabs and practice good hygiene such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and using hand sanitisers when soap and water are not available.

They further advise to avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth, cover coughs and sneezes and use a tissue or your elbow to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

Other advice include:

• Stay home if you’re sick: If you feel unwell, stay home to prevent spreading the flu to others.
• Clean and disinfect: Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with flu viruses.
• Avoid close contact: Maintain distance from people who are sick.
• Stay away from crowded places when flu is widespread in your community, to help reduce the spread of influenza and keep yourself and your loved ones healthy this winter.