With so much information being shared on the COVID-19 coronavirus we should all be using government advice to inform decisions and be checking that advice regularly. Please refer to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus for official guidance.

STAY AT HOME IF YOU HAVE CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS

Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:

• a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
• a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly

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.

As a minimum, please ensure that you are following the Public Health England (PHE) recommendations for general cold and flu precautions to help prevent people from catching and spreading COVID-19:

• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze (follow the simple Catch it, Bin it, Kill it rule)
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away
• Wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
• Those with a new persistent cough or high temperature are advised to self-isolate for seven days.
• Those over-70 are advised not to go on cruises
• International school trips are inadvisable
• If you are worried about symptoms, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment.

As government advice is updated, we will reassess and communicate as soon as possible.

Last updated 13th March 2020