We’re still here to support you with our services throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, but please read our guidance on changes we will be making to protect you and the community.
Use the following links to jump down to each section.
- What is COVID-19?
- Changes to our service points
- Staying at home if you have symptoms
- Stopping the spread of COVID-19
- Looking after yourself if you have COVID-19
- People at high risk from COVID-19
- Pregnancy and COVID-19
What is COVID-19?
COVID 19 coronavirus is an illness caused by a new virus that is spreading rapidly across the world. It can affect your breathing system – your lungs and airways. It can be spread from person to person through germs that end up on the hands and on surfaces when infected persons are coughing or sneezing.
Many people will recover after experiencing a period of sickness lasting between 1 – 2 weeks, but some people are at higher risk and may get seriously ill from COVID 19 coronavirus.
We’re still providing services during the COVID 19 coronavirus outbreak, however there will be some changes to the way we’ll run, and some guidance we’ll ask you to follow.
Changes to our service points
If you are not showing symptoms of COVID-19, we’re still able to provide you with our regular services. We will be making a few changes in our service points, including:
- We ask you not to come to service points
if you have symptoms of COVID-19 - If you attend for service, please do not bring others to accompany you
- We will be asking if you have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 when you arrive
- Will we be doing temperature checks when you arrive
- You will be asked to wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer gel when you arrive
- You will be asked to sit further apart from other clients in the waiting room, with extra seating provided outside where possible
- You will be seated further away from service providers
- Our clinics are already cleaned regularly, but we will increase our use of disinfectant in between clients to keep everyone safe
Please stay at home if you have these symptoms
Symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 are:
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- A high temperature
- A new, frequent cough – this means coughing several times each hour. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual
- Shortness of breath
To protect others in your community, please stay at home and keep yourself away from people as much as is possible if you have these symptoms. Do not go to any medical facilities, pharmacies, markets or shops – anywhere that you will come into contact with people.
How long to stay at home
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you'll need to stay at home for 14 days, or until your symptoms improve completely.
You will need to adhere to strict hygiene measures.
This includes:
- Wash your hands correctly after being outside, before and after any contact with others
- Use a separate bathroom and bedroom if possible,
- Don’t share cups or kitchen utensils.
- Wash all surfaces daily,
- Wear a mask if coughing or sneezing.
- Try to keep a distance of at least a meter from others.
If you live with someone who has symptoms, you'll need to stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person in the home started having symptoms. You will need to adhere to strict hygiene measures. This includes:
- Wash your hands after being outside, before and after all contact with the sick person and any surfaces that the sick person was in contact with.
- Use a separate bathroom and bedroom if possible,
- Don’t share cups or kitchen utensils.
- Wash all surfaces daily,
- Use gloves to handle laundry from the sick person.
- If possible, have the sick person wear a mask if coughing or sneezing.
- Try to keep a distance of at least a meter from the sick person.
If you or someone you are caring for develop worsening symptoms, such as difficult breathing, continuous pain or pressure in the chest, new onset of confusion or blue colouring of the face or lips please follow national guidelines on who to contact.
Protecting yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19
You can help protect yourself and stop the spread of COVID-19 by:
Do
- Follow your national guidelines on going out and isolating yourself
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this correctly, for at least 20 seconds
- always wash your hands when entering your home after having been outside
- Always wash your hands before handling food
- 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
- minimise visitors to your home, including friends and family
- avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of COVID-19
- avoid social gatherings where possible
- avoid events with large groups of people
- do not go to medical facilities or pharmacies if you are displaying symptoms
Don't
- do not touch your face. The virus can enter through your nose, mouth, and eyes.
Looking after yourself if you have COVID-19
- drink plenty of water to stay hydrated – drink enough so your pee is pale and clear
- take a painkiller such as Paracetamol or aspirin to help ease your symptoms
- stay in touch with family and friends over the phone or on social media, to help you avoid feeling low or lonely
- do light exercise at home, if you feel well enough to
People at high risk of COVID-19
You may be at high risk from COVID-19 if you:
- over the age of 70
- are having certain types of cancer treatment
- have blood or bone marrow cancer, such as leukaemia
- have a severe chronic lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma
- Have heart disease
- have a condition that makes you much more likely to get infections, such as diabetes or poorly controlled HIV/AIDS
- are taking medicine that weakens your immune system, such as corticosteroids
- are pregnant and have a serious heart condition
If you are at high risk, it is especially important that you follow the national guidance on avoiding the virus and avoid all social contact where possible while the virus is present in your country.
If you are at high risk and develop COVID-19, then please follow your national guidance.