Coronavirus

Coronavirus – latest guidance

Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms

Stay at home if you have either:

• a high temperature (37.8 or higher)– you feel hot to touch on your chest or back

• a new, continuous cough – this means you've started coughing repeatedly
• loss of taste/smell

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home.

Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you're staying at home.

If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home. After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine.

But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they're at home for longer than 14 days. The most up-to-date public guidance is always online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

Full guidance about self-isolation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection#ending-isolation

Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home

• your condition gets worse

• your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Use the 111 coronavirus service

Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.

What is Coronavirus?

Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also be infected by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.

Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict regulations. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of the hospital and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that come into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others. Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority, and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.

Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:

• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

You can find the latest information and advice at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) are asked to be particularly stringent in taking social distancing measures.  Full guidance on the groups that this includes and what considerations they should take can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

Social distancing guidance is now also available in the following languages,

Arabic

Bengali

Traditional Chinese- Cantonese

Simplified Chinese – mandarin

French

Guiarati

Polish

Portuguese

Punjabi

Urdu

Social distancing guidance in these languages can be accessed via https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people?utm_source=4cfb596d-8111-4594-ba77-288e1b828259&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate