Coronavirus Guidance
Page updated: 26 May 2020 13.00
We will update this page regularly as new information is issued.
Stay up to date with all of the latest Government guidance and what you can and cannot do at www.gov.uk/coronavirus
PLEASE NOTE: As from 6am, 26 March 2020 in order to help protect patients, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust are no longer accepting visitors except for the following reasons
▶️ The patient is receiving end of life care
▶️ The patient is a child or neonate - must be a parent/carer only
▶️ A partner or birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour
Information about the virus
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.
The symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are usually mild, but some people can become very unwell. The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- 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)
- loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.
Use the 111 online coronavirus service if you have any of the symptoms above. 111 will tell you what to do and help you get a test if you need one. Call 111 if you cannot get help online. Do not go to places like a GP surgery, hospital or pharmacy.
If you're worried about a baby or child under 5 call 111. If your child seems very unwell, is getting worse or you think there's something seriously wrong, call 999. Do not delay getting help if you're worried. Trust your instincts. Get more advice about coronavirus in children.
Staying at home if you have symptoms (self-isolation)
If your symptoms are mild, NHS 111 will usually advise you and anyone you live with not to leave your home. This is called self-isolation. Anyone with symptoms should self-isolate for 7 days from when their symptoms started. Anyone who does not have symptoms should self-isolate for 14 days from when the first person in your home started having symptoms.
Read more about self-isolation if you have symptoms of coronavirus.
How to stop infection spreading
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 back 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:
- touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
Check the NHS website for more information on coronavirus.
Social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older people and vulnerable adults
This guidance is for everyone. It advises on social distancing measures we should all be taking to reduce social interaction between people in order to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
It is intended for use in situations where people are living in their own homes, with or without additional support from friends, family and carers. If you live in a residential care setting - guidance is available at residential care setting.
Guidance on social distancing in Arabic
Guidance on social distancing in Bengali
Guidance on social distancing in French
Guidance on social distancing in Gujarati
Guidance on social distancing in Welsh
Guidance on social distancing in Polish
Guidance on social distancing in Portuguese
Guidance on social distancing in Punjabi
Guidance on social distancing in Simplified Chinese Mandarin
Guidance on social distancing in Traditional Chinese Cantonese
Guidance on social distancing in Urdu
Advice for parents when a child is unwell or injured during coronavirus
covid19_advice_for_parents_when_child_unwell_or_injured_poster.pdf
Coronavirus: Parent information for newborn babies
https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/04/Coronavirus-Parent-information-for-newborn-babies-080420.pdf
Pregnancy advice
If you're pregnant and worried about coronavirus, you can get advice about coronavirus and pregnancy from the Royal College of Obstretricians and Gynaecologists.
pdf C0441 Maternity Leaflets CV19 Planning Your Birth (822 KB)
pdf C0441 Maternity Leaflets CV19 Parent Information (794 KB)
pdf C0441 Maternity Leaflets CV19 Looking After Yourself (653 KB)
Illness in new born babies
https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/04/Illnes-in-newborn-babies-leaflet-080420.pdf
National Bereavement Helpline
A new Bereavement Helpline has been introduced by the NHS to support bereaved families during the Coronavirus outbreak. The new helpline is not a counselling service but will be available to offer support, guidance and advice on dealing with grief and loss.
The helpline will be staffed by NHS Blood and Transplant registered nurses who are highly skilled and experienced in working with bereaved people.
The helpline is available 8am to 8pm on 0800 2600 400
Action for ASD - Family Resources
Anxiety Resource Pack
Support Children with LD's and/or Autism with Covid-19 Isolation
Autism Self Isolation Guidance for Parents
Travel advice
There are some countries and areas where there's a higher chance of coming into contact with someone with coronavirus.
If you're planning to travel abroad and are concerned about coronavirus, see advice for travellers on GOV.UK.
Treatment for coronavirus
There is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus.
Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work against viruses.
Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms while your body fights the illness.
You'll need to stay in isolation, away from other people, until you have recovered.
Keep up to date with the Government response to COVID-19
Managing your medicine during the coronavirus outbreak