Louise Haigh MP Fighting for Sheffield's future
Health Advice
The fight against coronavirus will depend on all of us following the advice to help minimise the spread, protect our NHS and keep each other safe.
Self-isolate immediately if:
- you have any symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
- you’ve tested positive for coronavirus – this means you have coronavirus
- you live with someone who has symptoms or tested positive
- someone in your support bubble has symptoms or tested positive
- you’re told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app
If you have symptoms or have tested positive for coronavirus, you’ll usually need to self-isolate for at least 10 days. You’ll usually need to self-isolate for 14 days if:
- someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive
- someone in your support bubble has symptoms or tested positive
- you’ve been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace
Read more about how long to self-isolate.
To help limit the spread of coronavirus:
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- always wash your hands when you get home or into work
- 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.
- cover your face in enclosed spaces, especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
Clinical conditions which may put people at greater risk
There are some clinical conditions which may put people at greater risk. If you are in the categories below, NHS England will directly contact you with advice on the stringent measures you should take. People falling into this group are:
- Solid organ transplant recipients
- People with specific cancers
- People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
- People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
- People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
- People having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors.
- People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs.
- People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD
- People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell disease)
- People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection
- Women who are pregnant and who also have significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
You will be advised to stay at home and be given guidance on limiting face-to-face contact. The letter the NHS send to you will have contact numbers you can call if you live alone and do not have a support network to help you with food and other supplies. If you have misplaced the number please call me on 0114 250 8113 and we will arrange help.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has also published updated guidance for pregnant women, which you can find here.
Information for carers can also be found here.
I’m feeling anxious about coronavirus
It’s completely understandable to be worried about the impact coronavirus may have on you or those you care about. Try to stay calm and follow the official advice from the Government. The charity Mind has information you might find helpful.
- Young people aged 11-18 years old
- Individuals with anxiety or depression
- Couples where one person has anxiety or depression
- Individual/Couples aged 70+
- Individual/Couples with underlying health conditions
- Civil Servants, Chartered Accountants, Bank employees (and family members)
- Air Force, Royal Navy, Royal Marines (serving or veterans and family members)
- Aged 70+ with an underlying health condition.