Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The entire country is united in the fight against COVID-19 – and so are we.

Together, the Partnership’s members are coordinating their work 24/7 to:

• Limit the spread of the virus by ensuring people stay at home
• Protect our hospitals’ ability to care for those most seriously affected.
• Provide people with continuing access to a GP wherever possible. 
• Maintain as many critical services as possible, such as cancer, coronary care and maternity. 

We are in this together…and together we are stronger.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, is a new illness, a virus, that can affect your lungs and airways.

Symptoms 

Anyone who has symptoms, however mild, or is in a household where someone has symptoms, should not leave their house to go to work. Those people should self-isolate, as should those in their households. The main symptoms of coronavirus 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 three 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 taste or smell anything, or things taste or smell different to normal. 

Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.

To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home. You may be asked to speak with your GP via video call. Download a patient guide to video consultations.

Use the 111 online coronavirus service. The 111 online coronavirus service will ask about your symptoms and tell you what to do.

Other things you can do to stop the infection spreading:

• 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
• 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
• Stay 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people, if you need to go outside

You can also download the Easy Read guidance explaining what coronavirus is and advice on what you should do.  

For more information, visit the Coronavirus pages on the NHS website and Gov website.