A Message from the Local Authority

Posted by Charles on Wednesday, 29 April 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do

As of 23 March 2020 the Government has announced new rules people have to follow to help tackle the coronavirus emergency and slow the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19). The critical guidance instructs people to:

  • Stay home
  • Only go outside for food, health reasons or essential work
  • Stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people
  • Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Anyone can spread the virus.

Full guidance on staying at home and away from others

We have also put together some important advice on how to stay safe at home in a large family with elders or other people at high risk. In a large family who all live together it may be more difficult to reduce the risk to those that are vulnerable.

Please read this page and talk it through with everyone in the household so they understand why it is important.

Other guidance includes:

  • You can travel to and from work if absolutely necessary
  • Public gatherings of more than two people are banned – excluding people you live with
  • Don’t visit other people’s houses or socialise outside your home
  • Police can fine you if you don’t follow the rules
  • If unwell, isolate yourself and your family
  • Keep in touch with one another

If you need medical advice then access NHS 111 online at www.111.nhs.uk or by dialling 111 on your phone (only if you cannot do so online).

Find out how to isolate your household at: nhs.uk/coronavirus

Please remember that people can still be carriers of the virus and have no symptoms - so we need to go a lot further than simply avoiding people who are unwell.

Health advice

Coronavirus, or Covid-19, has spread to many countries, including the UK, since the first case was reported in Wuhan, China late last year.

The Department of Health and Social Care will be publishing updated data on Coronavirus (Covid-19) every day at 2pm until further notice. A new web page contains a dashboard tracker for cases in the UK.

Covid-19 is a virus with similar symptoms to flu or a cold. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

What to do if you or someone in your home develops symptoms

  • If you live with someone who has a ‘new continuous’ cough or high temperature, stay at home for 14 days in case symptoms develop
  • Stay at least three steps away from other people in your home if possible
  • If your symptoms get worse or no better after 7 days seek medical advice

There are some simple and effective actions everyone can take to protect themselves and their wider community:

  • Wash hands for about 20 seconds using soap and hot water or use a hand sanitiser gel
  • Use a tissue for coughs and sneezes
  • If you don’t have a tissue use your sleeve
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Use the online coronavirus service at nhs.uk

The NHS 111 online coronavirus service can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do. Only call if you cannot get help any other way. Don’t visit your GP, hospital or any other care setting for support.

Living Well have put together some important advice about how to maintain your health and well-being while staying at home, and staying safe during this period of lock-down.

Early years guidance for families

Families with babies or young children may need additional support to stay healthy and safe while socially distancing. To help, we have a produced a series of guides which you can view here.

Mental health advice

Infectious disease outbreaks, like the current Coronavirus (COVID-19), can be scary and can affect our mental health. While it is important to stay informed, there are also many things we can do to support and manage our wellbeing during such times.

Below are a series of links to websites with useful information, guidance and tips to help manage your mental health and wellbeing, and that of family and elderly relatives, during this challenging time.

Visit Bradford – Days In

Finding things to do over the next few weeks for you and your family to do together while staying at home may help your general well-being. To help, 'Visit Bradford' have pulled together some of the most positive, creative, helpful, interesting and entertaining activities to keep you going over the coming weeks. Find out more about Visit Bradford's Days In.

Coronavirus advice in other languages

If you require guidance in another language, Doctors of the World have produced advice in up to 34 different languages, in partnership with the British Red Cross, Migrant Help and Clear Voice. Visit the Doctors of the World website

Leeds City Council has developed a set of videos to support key Covid-19 messages in 11 different languages (Polish, Romanian, Urdu, Arabic, Czech, Punjabi, Tigrinya, Farsi, Slovak, Kurdish Sorani and Bengali).

There are three different videos focusing on:

Spot the signs - To help people spot the signs of coronavirus and give advice for households with possible coronavirus infection.

Hand-washing advice - How you can help stop the spread of viruses, like coronavirus, by practising good respiratory and hand hygiene.

Essential advice - Information for households with possible coronavirus infection. Please be aware this is an evolving situation and public advice may change.

You can find these all on this YouTube video playlist

Health information in other languages is also available via the NHS while Public Health England also has a range of resources available in 25 different languages available to download.

Accessible information

Materials are available for those who require information and advice about Coronavirus in accessible formats such as BSL or EasyRead:

  • UK Government - new home isolation resources in British Sign Language, available on the Campaign Resource Centre.
  • Bradford Talking Media (BTM) -  Coronavirus page with information on staying safe during the outbreak, in various accessible formats
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