The main symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19 are:
- 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)
- A loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste (anosmia)
If you think you have coronavirus do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
Stay at home. Use the 111 online coronavirus service for further advice.
Staying at home if you have symptoms (self-isolation)
If your symptoms are mild, you'll usually be advised to not leave your home for at least 7 days. Anyone you live with should not leave your home for 14 days.
This is called self-isolation.
Visit the NHS coronavirus information pages to find out more about self-isolation if you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms.
Preventing the spread of COVID-19
NEW GUIDANCE ON FACE COVERINGS IN HOSPITAL - EFFECTIVE MONDAY JUNE 15, 2020
From Monday 15 June, all patients and visitors will be asked to wear a cloth face covering when attending our hospitals.
Face coverings must cover the mouth and nose and can be in the form of a mask, scarf or bandanna. Information and advice about how to wear and make face coverings is available by clicking here.
There are people for whom wearing a face covering is not suitable:
- Young children under the age of 3.
- Anyone with breathing or developmental problems
- People who have lost consciousness
- People for whom coverings cause significant distress or discomfort
- Anyone who could not remove their face covering without assistance
In these instances you are not required to wear a face covering, but please be particularly vigilant about observing hand washing and social distancing guidance on site.
If you don’t have a face covering when you arrive, please speak to one of our hospital volunteers at the main entrances of our hospitals.
There are two ways to stop coronavirus from spreading in the community:
1. Social distancing
The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.
Visit the NHS coronavirus information pages for the full guidelines on social distancing and leaving the house for essential purposes
2. Good hand hygiene
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with coronavirus.
Do
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
- 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
Don't
- do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
Getting ready for surgery
If you are booked for a surgical intervention, an isolation period of 14 days must be observed before your surgery date. More information is included in your surgery booking letter.
