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Coronavirus information

 

Below is some advice about what you can do to protect yourself from coronavirus and to support your community to stay well.

 

Stay Informed

The latest official government guidance on coronavirus can be found at: 

www.gov.uk/coronavirus 

www.nhs.uk/coronavirus


Coronavirus symptoms

What are the main symptoms of coronavirus?

  • a high temperature
  • a new, continuous cough
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

What should I do if I show symptoms?

  • book a home or drive-through test as soon as possible by going to www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119
  • self-isolate (stay at home) for 10 days from when you starting showing symptoms or tested positive

How long should I self-isolate for? 

  • if you have symptoms or tested positive you must stay at home for 10 days
  • if someone you live with or are in a support bubble with must stay at home for 14 days
  • if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has coronavirus, you may get a text, email or call from the NHS Test and Trace service asking you to stay at home for 14 days

Further guidance about what to do if you have symptoms is available on the government website - including English, Easy Read and several community languages.

Advice on self-isolation can be found on the NHS website.

 

What should I do I my symptoms get worse?

Contact the NHS 111 coronavirus service if:

  • you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
  • you feel breathless and it's getting worse
  • your symptoms get worse and you're not sure what to do

Go to 111.nhs.uk/covid-19 or call 111 if you cannot get help online. BSL users can use the NHS 111 video interpreter service by going to www.interpreternow.co.uk/nhs111.

More advice on what to do if your symptoms worsen can be found on the NHS website.

 

Preventing the spread of coronavirus

It’s important to do what you can to reduce the risk of you and other people getting coronavirus. You can spread the virus even if you do not have symptoms.

To avoid the spread of coronavirus you must:

  • Stay at least 2 metres away from anyone you do not live with or anyone not in your support bubble. A support bubble is 1 other household you’re allowed to meet with if you live alone or are a single parent.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water more often, especially as soon as you get home, for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze, put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards.

Do I need to wear a face covering?

If you can, wear something that covers your nose and mouth in places where it's hard to stay away from other people.

There are some places where you must wear a face covering, such as:

  • on public transport
  • in shops
  • when you go to hospital appointments or visit someone in hospital

More information on when to wear face coverings and how to make your own can be found on the government website.

You do not need to wear a face covering if you have a good reason not to. This includes adults with breathing difficulties and young children under 11.

A full list of people who are exempt from wearing face coverings is available on the government website.

 

People at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable)

You may be at moderate risk from coronavirus if you:

  • are 70 or older
  • have a lung condition that's not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
  • have heart disease (such as heart failure)
  • have diabetes
  • have chronic kidney disease
  • have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
  • have a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy)
  • have a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections
  • are taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids)
  • are very obese (a BMI of 40 or above)
  • are pregnant

What should I do if I am at moderate risk?

If you're at moderate risk from coronavirus, you can go out to work (if you cannot work from home) and for things like getting food or exercising. But you should try to stay at home as much as possible.

It's very important you follow the general advice on social distancing. This includes trying to stay at least 2 metres away from anyone you do not live with or anyone not in your support bubble.

Unlike people at high risk (extremely clinically vulnerable), you will not get a letter from the NHS.

 

People at higher risk (clinically extremely vulnerable)

Please note due to a local rise in cases those previously asked to shield in the L8 area (Prices Park) need to continue to shield until 14th August. Learn more here.

People at high risk from coronavirus include people who:

  • have had an organ transplant
  • are having chemotherapy or antibody treatment for cancer, including immunotherapy
  • are having an intense course of radiotherapy (radical radiotherapy) for lung cancer
  • are having targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system (such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors)
  • have blood or bone marrow cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
  • have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the past 6 months, or are still taking immunosuppressant medicine
  • have been told by a doctor they have a severe lung condition (such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma or severe COPD)
  • have a condition that means they have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID or sickle cell)
  • are taking medicine that makes them much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids or immunosuppressant medicine)
  • have a serious heart condition and are pregnant

 

What should I do if I am at higher risk?

If you're at high risk from coronavirus, you were advised to take extra steps to protect yourself until 1 August 2020. This was called shielding.

In England, you're no longer advised to shield. But there are still things you can do to protect yourself and others and you can still get some support.

Visit our page for extremely vulnerable people for the latest guidance.

 

Coronavirus and other health conditions

Some charities have worked with the NHS to produce advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) and certain health conditions.

These can be found on the NHS website and will continue to be updated with more conditions.

Advice about pregnancy and coronavirus can also be found on the NHS website.

 

Where to get support

Ask family, friends and neighbours to help you with shopping, collecting prescriptions or using online services.

If you need help with tasks you cannot do because you cannot leave home, such as shopping or collecting prescriptions, or want a friendly chat, call Liverpool City Council on 0151 233 3066 Monday to Thursday, 8am to 6pm or Friday, 8am to 4pm or request help online.

The NHS Volunteer Responders can also help with shopping and essential supplies, transport to a medical appointment or provide a regular, friendly phone call. Call 0808 196 3646 8am to 8pm or ask a carer or family member to do so on your behalf.

You can find details of additional support available in the local community on the Healthwatch Liverpool Livewell website. 

 

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 unless you are asked to do so.

The NHS is still here to help you get the care you need, although services may be operating differently.

Visit our page on accessing NHS services during COVID-19 to learn how you can get help.

Read more advice about getting medical help at home on the NHS website.

 

Other languages and formats

Doctors of the World and the British Red Cross are working to translate NHS guidance into a wider list of languages which you can download here.

Deaf health charity Sign Health are producing BSL videos based on national coronavirus guidance which are updated here.

 

Further resources