Coronavirus – Advice For Patients
Information is available at:
- www.gov.uk/coronavirus
- www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
- 111 coronavirus service
- Face coverings: when to wear one and how to make your own
- Information about testing for coronavirus and what to do if you’re contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service.
- Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms
- What to do if you or someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus
- Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus
- Get an isolation note
- Take part in research
Help Control The Virus
To protect yourself and others, when you leave home you must:
- Wash hands – keep washing your hands regularly.
- Cover face – wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in enclosed spaces.
- Make space – stay at least a metre away from people not in your household.
If you are feeling unwell, get a test and do not leave home for at least 10 days.
Read more about what you can and cannot do at www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do.
Coronavirus Symptoms
- 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)
- Loss of/change in smell or taste
To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.
Use the 111 coronavirus service to find out what to do.
Testing For Coronavirus
Anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can get a free test to check if they have the virus. Some people without symptoms can have the test too. For more information please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-for-coronavirus/ask-for-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/.
There is another test (antibody test) that checks if you’ve already had the virus. This test is not widely available yet. You can find out about antibody testing at www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-antibody-tests.
What To Do If You Need Medical Help For Another Reason
If you need medical help not related to coronavirus, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
- For health information and advice, use the NHS website or check 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.
Read more advice about getting medical help at home at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/getting-medical-help-at-home/.
Other Things You Can Do To Stop The Infection Spreading
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.
- 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.
- Stay 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people, if you need to go outside.
Don’t:
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
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.
The risk of being in close contact with a person with coronavirus or contaminated surfaces is very low at the current time. 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.