
What is Coronavirus?
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is an illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.
What are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a cough
- a high temperature
- shortness of breath
- Loss of taste and/or smell
But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.
What do you have to do?
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
Do
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- wash your hands as soon as you get back home
- 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
- Wear a face mask whilst in indoor public places
Dont
- do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
What to do if you medical help
If you need medical help for any reason, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature or a new, continuous cough), use the 111 coronavirus service.
If you need help or advice not related to coronavirus:
- for health information and advice, use the NHS website or your GP surgery website
- for urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service – only call 111 if you're unable to get help online
- for life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance
Who is deemed as high risk
Coronavirus can make anyone seriously ill, but there are some people who are at a higher risk.
For example, you may be at high risk from coronavirus if you:
- have had an organ transplant
- are having certain types of cancer treatment
- have blood or bone marrow cancer, such as leukaemia
- have a severe lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma
- have a condition that makes you much more likely to get infections
- are taking medicine that weakens your immune system
- are pregnant and have a serious heart condition
How to protect yourself if you are high risk
If you're at high risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus, there are extra things you should do to avoid catching it.
These include:
- not leaving your home – you should not go out to do shopping, pick up medicine or exercise
- stay at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people in your home as much as possible
Ask friends, family or neighbours to pick up shopping and medicines for you. They should leave them outside your door.
Do not leave you home if you have Coronavirus symptoms
Do not leave your home if you have:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- A loss of taste/smell - this means not tasting or smelling food or aromas.
To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.
Self isolation helps stop Coronavirus spreading
Do not leave your home if you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) or live with someone who does.
This is called self-isolation.
If you are self-isolating, you must:
- not leave your home for any reason, other than to exercise once a day – but stay at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people
- not go out to buy food or collect medicine – order them by phone or online, or ask someone else to drop them off at your home
- not have visitors, such as friends and family, in your home
You can use your garden, if you have one.
How long do you have to isolate if you have symptoms
If you have symptoms of coronavirus, you'll need to self-isolate for 10 days.
After 10 days:
- if you do not have a high temperature, you do not need to self-isolate
- if you still have a high temperature, keep self-isolating until your temperature returns to normal
You do not need to self-isolate if you just have a cough after 10 days. A cough can last for several weeks after the infection has gone.
If you live with someone who has symptoms
If you live with someone who has symptoms, you'll need to self-isolate for 14 days from the day their symptoms started. This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear.
If more than 1 person at home has symptoms, self-isolate for 14 days from the day the first person started having symptoms.
If you get symptoms, self-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms start, even if it means you're self-isolating for longer than 14 days.
If you do not get symptoms, you can stop self-isolating after 14 days.
If you have symptoms and live with a vulnerable person
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 arrange for them to stay with friends or family for 14 days.
If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible
Do
- try to keep 2 metres (3 steps) away from each other
- avoid using shared spaces, such as kitchens or bathrooms, at the same time as each other
- open windows in shared spaces if you can
- clean a shared bathroom each time you use it, for example by wiping the surfaces you have touched
- use a dishwasher if you have one – if you do not have one, use washing-up liquid and warm water and dry everything thoroughly
- do not share a bed, if possible
- do not share towels, including hand towels and tea towels
Reducing the spread of infection at home
While you're self-isolating, you should:
- wash your hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds
- 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 straight away and wash your hands afterwards
- clean objects and surfaces you touch often (like door handles, kettles and phones) using your regular cleaning products
If you have any queries or questions regarding coronavirus safety please feel free to contact HSC.
We can help set procedures for your business, create a bespoke Covid-19 Risk Assessment and help you through this difficult time and forward into the future.
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Email: [email protected]