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Here you will find guidance for households on health and wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak. This is the latest information from the Department of Health.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.

    Symptoms

    The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

    • new continuous cough and/or
    • high temperature

    For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

    Protection from coronavirus

    The best way to protect yourself and others for coronavirus is to:

    • Wash your hands with soap and water, or use a sanitising gel, regularly throughout the day.
    • Catch your cough or sneeze in a tissue, bin it and wash your hands.

    How to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus (social distancing)

    Everyone should do what they can to stop coronavirus spreading.

    It is particularly important for people who:

    • are 70 or over
    • have a long-term condition
    • are pregnant
    • have a weakened immune system

    If you're at high risk

    The NHS will contact you from Monday 23 March 2020 if you are at particularly high risk of getting seriously ill with coronavirus. You'll be given specific advice about what to do.

    Do not contact your GP or healthcare team at this stage – wait to be contacted.

    Who is at risk?

    You may be at a particularly high risk of getting seriously ill with coronavirus if you:

    • have had an organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressant medicine
    • are having chemotherapy or radiotherapy
    • have blood or bone marrow cancer, such as leukaemia
    • have a severe chest condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma
    • have another serious health condition

    Self-isolation 

    • if you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started.
    • if you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for 7 days, but all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. 
    • 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. 
    • it is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
    • if you can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period
    • if you cannot move vulnerable people out of your home, stay away from them 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, each time using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser (as shown in the video above)
    • 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.

    Things to help you prepare now

    Make a plan for your household or family

    The best thing you can do now is plan for how you can adapt your daily routine, and that of others in your household, to be able to follow this advice. Some of the ways in which you could prepare include:

    • talk to your neighbours and family and exchange phone numbers of household contacts
    • consider and plan for those in your home who are considered vulnerable
    • create a contact list with phone numbers of neighbours, schools, employer, chemist, NHS 111
    • set up online shopping accounts if possible

    Coronavirus

    • Health and wellbeing information
      • Self-isolation advice
      • Caring for children and vulnerable people
    • Covid-19 Business Grants
    • Employment guide
    • Education guide
    • Government Hotlines and Community Support

    Do

    • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds

    • always wash your hands when you get home or into work

    • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

    • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze

    • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

    • avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of coronavirus

    • only travel on public transport if you need to

    • work from home, if you can

    • avoid social activities, such as going to pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas

    • avoid events with large groups of people

    • use phone, online services, or apps to contact your GP surgery or other NHS services

    Don't

    • do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

    • do not have visitors to your home, including friends and family

    Wash your hands often

    hand washing

    Clean your hands frequently each day by washing with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser. This will help protect you and the people you live with. This step is one of the most effective ways of reducing the risk of passing infection to others.

    Cover your coughs and sneezes

    sneezing

    Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze. If you do not have one to hand, sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your hand.

    If you have a carer, they should use disposable tissues to wipe away any mucus or phlegm after you have sneezed or coughed. Then they should wash their hands with soap and water.

    Dispose of tissues into a disposable rubbish bag and immediately wash your hands with soap and water or use a hand sanitiser.

    Philip Davies MP Member of Parliament for the Shipley Constituency

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