Information on coronavirus

Read the latest advice and information from the Government, NHS and Public Health England about Coronavirus.

How to avoid catching or spreading germs

Do:

• 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.
• Wash your hands with soap and water often, and for 20 seconds – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

Don't:

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

If you think you might have coronavirus

Symptoms

• A high temperature
• A new, continuous cough
• Loss or change in sense of smell or taste

What to do if you have these symptoms

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. You should stay at home and self isolate.

Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.

If you have symptoms get a test.

Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• You feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• Your condition gets worse
• Your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Use the 111 coronavirus service

How to self isolate if you or someone in your house has coronavirus

If you have symptoms of coronavirus you should stay home and self isolate. What this means is you should not leave your house, even to do shopping, to avoid spreading the virus. If you live alone, you should stay at home for seven days from when your symptoms started. If you live with others, then you must stay at home for seven days from when your symptoms started. However, everyone else in the household who is well must stay at home and not leave for 14 days.

For more information about when to self isolate and what this means for families visit the Government website.

Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19

• Stay at home as much as possible
• Go outdoors for exercise
• Attend essential health appointments
• Only meet up with one other person from outside your household or support bubble in an outdoor public space
• Stay 2 metres away from other people within your household

Find out more 

If you have not been asked to but you think you should be on the clinically extremely vulnerable please ask your GP.

Further information

NHS England has produced a list of common questions about coronavirus, covering advice for you and your family, how it's caught and spread, prevention, self-isolation, testing and treatment and foreign travel.

Other places for information:

• NHS coronavirus information
• GOV.UK information on coronavirus and the situation in the UK
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice
• World Health Organization: coronavirus myth busters

Getting tested for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test, how to get tested and the different types of test available is available on the Government's website.