COVID-19 (coronavirus) - what to do if you think you have the virus

(Updated 11th June 2020)

Thank you to everyone in our community for working together and protecting each other through maintaining physical distancing, good hand hygiene and staying at home as much as possible.  It has been hard but your commitment to this is appreciated.  Through our collective efforts we have reduced but not eliminated the coronavirus. We need to continue to  work together to stay safe in Frome as the lockdown is eased.

The government has updated it's advice about coronavirus, as follows: 

We can all help control the virus if we stay alert. This means you must: 

• Stay at home as much as possible
• Work from home if you can
• Limit contact with other people
• Keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
• Wash your hands regularly
• Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms

You can read more about what you can and can't do on the government website. 

CLICK HERE FOR CORONAVIRUS FAQ ON WHAT WE CAN NOW DO

If you're at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) from coronavirus (COVID-19), there are extra steps you're advised to take to protect yourself. These extra steps are called shielding.

NHS CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

If you have symptoms of coronavirus, stay at home. Do not visit a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. 

Use the 111 coronavirus service to find out what to do. 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 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste - this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

NHS 111 ONLINE CORONAVIRUS SERVICE

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)
• a 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)
• a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste - this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

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.

NHS 111 ONLINE CORONAVIRUS SERVICE

Click here for more information on what to do if you or someone in household has coronavirus symptoms

Read guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection

Test and Trace

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) you can ask for a test to check if you have the virus. This is called an antigen test. 

You can ask for a test:

• for yourself, if you have coronavirus symptoms now (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
• for someone you live with, if they have coronavirus symptoms

If you're asking for a test for someone else, and the person is aged 13 or over, check they're happy for you to ask for a test for them.

You need to get the test done in the first 5 days of having symptoms.

For more information about the test and trace service please click the button below. This will take you to the NHS test and trace pages, which include information on asking for a test, what your test results mean, what happens if you test positive and what happens if you've been in contact with someone who tests positive. 

NHS TEST AND TRACE SERVICE

This image also outlines the NHS Test and Trace service: 

Isolation Notes

If you have symptoms of coronavirus or live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, you can get an isolation note to send to your employer as proof you need to stay off work. You do not need to get a fit note from your GP.

Please make sure you have checked the NHS coronavirus advice before using this service. 

GET AN ISOLATION NOTE