Coronavirus (COVID19) information and advice

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China. The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a new continuous cough and/or high temperature. Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

The NHS website has more information about how coronavirus is spread and answers common questions about the virus.

General Guidance

Common sense is key in a situation like this and there are things you can do to help stop germs like coronavirus spreading:

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough and/or high temperature. If you have these symptoms, however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. Follow the Government stay at home guidance.
Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, or after being in public areas where other people are doing so. Use hand sanitiser if that’s all you have access to.
To reduce the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or your sleeve (not your hands) if you don’t have a tissue, and throw the tissue away immediately. Then wash your hands or use a hand sanitising gel.
Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.

Further information available at:

Social Distancing Guidance

The Government guidance on social distancing is for everyone. It advises on social distancing measures we should all be taking to reduce social interaction between people in order to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). It is intended for use in situations where people are living in their own homes, with or without additional support from friends, family and carers. Further guidance if you live in a residential care setting.

Key messages:

Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce the social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). They are:

Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Avoid non-essential use of public transport, varying your travel times to avoid rush hour, when possible.
Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information.
Avoid large gatherings, and gatherings in smaller public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, clubs.
Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media.
Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services.
Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is pragmatic.
We strongly advise you to follow the above measures as much as you can and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible, particularly if you: are over 70; have an underlying health condition; are pregnant.

Stay at Home Guidance

The Government stay at home guidance is for:

People with symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus, and do not require hospital treatment, who must remain at home until they are well.
Those living in households with someone who shows symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus.

Key messages

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), you’ll need to stay at home for 7 days.
If you live with someone who has symptoms, you’ll need to stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person in the home started having symptoms.
For anyone else in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14-day isolation period.
If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days.
If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.
If you have coronavirus symptoms 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.
Plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home and consider what can be done for vulnerable people in the household.
Ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home.
Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water, or use hand sanitiser.
If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online Coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.

Government guidance on shielding and protecting extremely vulnerable people.