Below is some simple advice about what you can do to protect yourself from coronavirus and to support your community to stay well.
Stay Informed
Latest officialnational guidance on coronavirus from Public Health England & The Department of Health and Social Care can be found at: gov.uk/coronavirusand at:www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
You can find details of support available in the community - including information about local shops which are arranging deliveries - on the Healthwatch Liverpool Livewell website.
Stay Alert - Control the Virus - Save Lives
Everyone should stay at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
This includes people of all ages – even if you do not have any symptoms or other health conditions.
The only reasons to leave home are:
for work, where you cannot work from home
going to shops that are permitted to be open – to get things like food and medicine, and to collect goods ordered online or on the phone
to exercise or spend time outdoors for recreation
any medical need, to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
If you do have to go out for one of these reasons, you should:
Stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people
Wash your hands for 20 seconds as soon as you get home
You can also contact your local GP surgery for over the phone advice.
How long should I self-isolate for?
if you have symptoms, stay at home for 7 days
if you live with other people, you should ALL stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got 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 wherever possible
lung conditions, such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis
heart disease, such as heart failure
kidney disease
liver disease, such as hepatitis
conditions affecting the brain and nerves, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
diabetes
problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you've had your spleen removed
a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy being very overweight
The advice for people at high risk is to avoid contact and significantly limit face to face interaction with friends and family where possible, staying at home for several weeks.
People at high risk should ask friends, family or neighbours to pick up shopping and medicines for them and leave them outside their door.
You can also ask for help from volunteers by calling Liverpool City Council on 0151 233 3066 from 8am to 6pm, seven days a week.
Some people (adults and children) are extremely vulnerable on medical grounds and are strongly advised to stay at home as much as possible and keep visits outside to a minimum. This is called ‘shielding’.
Extremely vulnerable people are those who:
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 with a serious heart condition
Extremely vulnerable people should ask friends, family or neighbours to pick up shopping and medicines for them and leave them outside their door.
People can also ask for help from volunteers by calling Liverpool City Council on 0151 233 3066 from 8am to 6pm, seven days a week orrequest help online here.
The advice for people who are shielding is now updated:
If you wish to spend time outdoors you should minimise contact with others by keeping 2 metres apart.
If you choose to spend time outdoors, this can be with members of your own household. If you live alone, you can spend time outdoors with one person from another household (ideally the same person each time).
You should wash your hands regularly, especially when leaving and entering your home.
You should not attend any gatherings outdoors or in private spaces.
You should strictly avoid contact with anyone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus.
The government is currently advising extremely vulnerable people to shield until 30 June 2020 and is regularly monitoring this position.
Staying at home will slow the spread of the virus, help the NHS to cope better, and save lives.
Ask family, friends and neighbours to get what you need such as shopping or prescriptions, and use online services.
Liverpool City Council has volunteers geared up to support vulnerable people too. You can also call Liverpool City Council's Support Line on 0151 233 3066 between 8am - 6pm, seven days a week orrequest help online.
Getting Other Medical Help
If you need medical help for another reason not related to coronavirus, please do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
For health information and advice, use theNHS.uk websiteor check your GP surgery website (search here).
For life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance. BSL users or those who can't speak can register for 999 texts by texting 'register' to 999.
