Overview-Coronavirus
(COVID-19)
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways.It's
caused by a virus called coronavirus.
Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms
Stay at home if you have either:
- 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)
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
How long to stay at home
- if you have symptoms of
coronavirus, 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
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.
Staying at home can help stop coronavirus
spreading
You'll need to stay at home if you have symptoms of coronavirus
(COVID-19) or live with someone who does.
Staying at home means you should:
- not go to work, school or public
areas
- not use public transport or taxis
- not have visitors, such as
friends and family, in your home
- 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
You can use your garden, if you have one. You can also leave the house
to exercise – but stay at least 2 metres away from other people.
How long to stay at home
If you have symptoms
If you have symptoms of coronavirus, you'll need to stay
at home for 7 days.
After 7 days:
- if you do not have a high
temperature, you do not need to stay at home
- if you
still have a high temperature, stay at home until your temperature returns
to normal
You do not need to stay at home if you just have a cough
after 7 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
stay at home 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, stay at home
for 14 days from the day the first person started having symptoms.
If you get symptoms, stay at home for 7 days from when
your symptoms start, even if it means you're at home for longer than 14 days.
If you do not get symptoms, you can stop staying at home
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.
Reducing the spread of
infection in your home
While you're staying at home, 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
How to do your cleaning and laundry
Use your usual household products, such as detergents and
bleach, when you clean your home.
Put used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths in
rubbish bags. Then put the bag into a second bag and tie it securely. Wait 3
days before putting it in your outside bin.
Dispose of other household waste as normal.
Wash your laundry in the washing machine in the usual
way. Laundry that has been in contact with an ill person can be washed with
other people's items. Do not shake dirty laundry, as this may spread the virus
in the air.
If you do not have a washing machine, wait for 3 days
after your stay at home has ended before taking your laundry to a launderette.
Looking after your health and wellbeing
To help yourself stay well while you're at home:
- drink plenty of water to stay
hydrated – drink enough so your pee is pale and clear
- take paracetamol to help ease
your symptoms
- stay in touch with family and
friends over the phone or on social media, to help you avoid feeling low
or lonely
- try to keep yourself busy – you
could try activities like cooking, reading, online learning and watching
films
- do light
exercise, if you feel well enough to
What to do if you need medical help if you
have to stay at home
If you get symptoms not related to coronavirus and need medical help:
- do not go to a GP surgery,
pharmacy or hospita
How coronavirus is spread
Because it's a new illness, we do not know exactly how coronavirus
spreads from person to person.
Similar viruses are spread in cough droplets.
It's very unlikely it can be spread through things like packages or food
Travel advice
There are some countries and areas where there's a higher chance of
coming into contact with someone with coronavirus.
Treatment for coronavirus
There is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus.
Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work against viruses.
Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms while your body fights the
illness.
You'll need to stay in isolation, away from other people, until you have
recovered.
Reducing the spread of
infection in your home
While you're staying at home, 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
How to do your cleaning and laundry
Use your usual household products, such as detergents and
bleach, when you clean your home.
Put used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths in
rubbish bags. Then put the bag into a second bag and tie it securely. Wait 3
days before putting it in your outside bin.
Dispose of other household waste as normal.
Wash your laundry in the washing machine in the usual
way. Laundry that has been in contact with an ill person can be washed with
other people's items. Do not shake dirty laundry, as this may spread the virus
in the air.
If you do not have a washing machine, wait for 3 days
after your stay at home has ended before taking your laundry to a launderette.
Looking after your health and wellbeing
To help yourself stay well while you're at home:
- drink plenty of water to stay
hydrated – drink enough so your pee is pale and clear
- take paracetamol to help ease
your symptoms
- stay in touch with family and
friends over the phone or on social media, to help you avoid feeling low
or lonely
- try to keep yourself busy – you could
try activities like cooking, reading, online learning and watching films
- do light
exercise, if you feel well enough to
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