Coronavirus Guidance
Information about the virus
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
Novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.
Advice for travellers from Wuhan
If you have returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days:
stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses
call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the city
Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus.
What this means in practice
We are asking people to take simple, common-sense steps to avoid close contact with other people as much as possible, like they would with other flu viruses.
This means remaining at home for 14 days after arriving from Wuhan and not going to work, school or public areas.
Where possible, you should avoid having visitors to your home, but it’s ok for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food.
Transport
You should not use public transport or taxis until 14 days after your return from Wuhan.
Getting food and medicine
We recommend that you stay at home for 14 days after arriving from Wuhan, and avoid public places. Where possible, contact a friend, family member or delivery services to carry out errands on your behalf.
Taking children to school
We recommend that you stay at home for 14 days after arriving from Wuhan, and avoid public places. Where possible, contact a friend or family member to take your children to school.
Why the advice has changed
This is an evolving situation and the advice has changed based on emerging information from China about the number of cases and spread of the infection from person to person.
While the risk to the UK population remains low, this is a highly precautionary measure to limit the potential spread of infection.
If you develop symptoms
If you develop a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat or difficulty breathing, you should continue to follow the advice above. Please do not leave your home until you been given advice by a clinician.
Public Health England Blog - Wuhan novel coronavirus: what you need to know