Coronavirus - Stay at home advice

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a wide-spread virus called coronavirus. With this outbreak, stay at home advice is being offered to help slow the reach of the Coronavirus

You should stay at home if you have any coronavirus symptoms, for example:

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

If you possess any of these symptoms you need to do everything in your power to stop coronavirus spreading. This is particularly important for people who are over 70, have a long term condition, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system. This blog will offer you stay at home advice to help you limited your exposure to the coronavirus

How to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus?

wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
always wash your hands when you get home or into work – 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 immediately and wash your hands afterwards
avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of coronavirus
only travel on public transport if you need to
work from home, if you can
avoid social activities, such as going to pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas
avoid events with large groups of people

How long to stay at home if you have Coronavirus symptoms?

Anyone showing Coronavirus symptoms should stay at home for at least 7 days. If you are living with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days, this will stop the spreading of the infection outside the home.

After 14 days, anyone you are living with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine. If anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they’re at home for longer than 14 days.

If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, 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 (you can use our tips above to avoid spreading coronavirus).

Baby touching mother's face near windowsill

Tips for staying at home – isolation advice

Meals

If possible, have someone leave your food on a tray at your bedroom door. When you have finished with your food, leave everything on the tray to be collected. Once collected, your dirty dishes should be put in the dishwasher immediately.

Clean your home

You can find a number of cleaning and disinfectant products in supermarkets that will kill coronavirus on surfaces. If you have them, wear rubber gloves when cleaning, then wash the gloves while still wearing them, then clean your hands after you take them off.

We recommend you disinfect the following daily;

counters
table-tops
doorknobs
bathroom fixtures
toilets and toilet handles
phones
keyboards
tablets
bedside tables

Washing / Laundry

Once undressed, put your washing in a plastic bag. You can then have someone collect it from your bedroom door.

Washing tips:

wash the laundry at the highest temperature for the material, with a detergent
clean all surfaces and the area around the washing machine
wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water
dry and iron using a hot setting or steam iron

Waste / Rubbish

Put all of the waste that you have used, including tissues and masks, in a plastic rubbish bag. Tie the bag when it is about three-quarters full and place the plastic bag in a second bin bag and tie the bag. Dong this will ensure no germs can escape.

If you are looking for more information on Coronavirus, self-isolation or social distancing, you can visit www.nhs.co.uk or contact us today.

Do not go to your local Imaan pharmacy, GP surgery, or hospital. You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.

If you are looking for more information on Coronavirus, self-isolation or social distancing, you can visit the NHS website or contact us today.