COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.

Stay at home to stop coronavirus spreading

Everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

This includes people of all ages - even if you do not have any symptoms or other health conditions.

You can only leave your home:

• to shop for basic essentials - only when you really need to
• to do one form of exercise a day - such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with other people you live with
• for any medical need - for example, to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to people in need
• to travel to and from work - but only where this is absolutely necessary.

What to do if you have coronavirus symptoms

Continue to stay at home if you have either a:

• 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).

To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.

Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.

Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.

More advice from the NHS

• Advice for everyone
• Advice for people at high risk
• Symptoms and what to do
• Self-isolation if you or someone you live with has symptoms

Advice in other languages

• Stay at home guidance for households with possible infection (other languages)

Shielding: How to keep safe during the coronavirus outbreak 

Guidance is for adults and children who have been identified by the NHS as at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) because of an underlying health condition. It also contains guidance for the person’s family, friends and carers. 

• Shielding: How to keep safe during the coronavirus outbreak

Help for adults needing support in their homes

Conversations matter - a telephone support service for adults needing support in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic

H&F Community Aid Network - H&F CAN is the volunteer community aid network to support residents in need during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Help for domestic abuse victims 

The coronavirus outbreak brings new challenges for people living through domestic abuse, however support is still available in H&F.

• Supporting domestic abuse victims during the coronavirus outbreak

Coronavirus advice for people who receive direct payments

If you receive direct payments to organise your own care and support you may find this information useful.

• Coronavirus advice for people who receive direct payments

Coping with self-isolation and being indoors

The coronavirus outbreak brings new challenges for people who have to self-isolate or stay indoors with their families or alone. There is help available on the phone and online. Here are some resources you may find useful.   

General support

• Get in touch with a local support group 

Staying safe

• Domestic abuse support 
• Safeguarding adults
  safeguardingadults@lbhf.gov.uk
• Child protection
  familyservices@lbhf.gov.uk

Mental health support

• NHS free helplines and organisations
• NHS mental health and wellbeing advice website for self-assessment, audio guides and practical tools, if you are experiencing stress, feelings of anxiety or low mood.
• Every Mind Matters - coronavirus and mental wellbeing - simple tips and advice to start taking better care of your mental health.
• MIND - coronavirus and your wellbeing
• If you are still struggling after several weeks and it is affecting your daily life, please contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111.
• Access free easy ten minute work outs from Public Health England or try other exercise videos at home on the NHS Fitness Studio. Sport England also has tips for keeping active at home.
• The Every Mind Matters sleep page provides practical advice on how to improve your sleep.

Support for families

• Family Support guides and talk to the Time to Connect Team
• Family Lives - Advice for families in self isolation
• Activities to do at home - learning and play online resources for children

Keeping fit

• Public Health England - free easy ten minute work outs 
• NHS Fitness Studio - videos to help you exercise at home
• Sport England - keeping active at home

Support for young people

• H&F Youth Council’s tips for young people - getting through coronavirus and self-isolation

More information

• GOV.UK: coronavirus action plan
• GOV.UK: information on coronavirus and the situation in the UK
• NHS England: coronavirus for health professionals

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