Coronavirus general advice

If you suspect you have come into contact with someone with coronavirus, have symptoms of coronavirus or have travelled to any of the high-risk areas listed below, please call 111 immediately and keep your Nurseplus branch team informed of the advice you received from 111.

If you have any queries or concerns regarding coronavirus you can contact Nurseplus via our dedicated coronavirus mailbox coronavirus@nurseplusuk.com. Please ensure you state whether you are Nurseplus staff (including your job role) or a Nurseplus client so advice can be given accordingly. 

What is coronavirus?

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

How is coronavirus transmitted?

Coronaviruses are mainly transmitted by large respiratory droplets and direct or indirect contact with infected secretions. They have also been detected in blood, faeces and urine and, under certain circumstances, airborne transmission is thought to have occurred from respiratory secretions and faecal material.

General advice on what you can do to avoid catching or spreading infection

There's currently no vaccine for coronavirus, but there are things you can do to help stop germs like coronavirus spreading;

• 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 straight away (catch it, bin it, kill it)
• Wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• Don’t do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

• a cough
• a high temperature
• shortness of breath

But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu. It's very unlikely to be coronavirus if:

• you have not been in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus
• you have not been to mainland China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days
• you have not been to Iran, northern Italy, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar since 19 February 2020

Infection control when working in a healthcare setting

• Ensure you familiarise yourself with local policies and procedures and any updates to these concerning coronavirus
• Ensure you adopt good hand-washing techniques with soap and water before and after all patient contact, if hands are soiled and after removal of protective clothing
• Ensure you wear PPE (gloves and apron) in accordance with standard infection control policies and your training.
• Please practice trained standard precautions when handling any clinical waste.

I think I may have come into contact with someone with coronavirus, what should I do?

Health professionals are working to contact anyone who has been in close contact with people who have coronavirus, but call 111 for advice if you think you've been in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus and keep your Nurseplus branch team informed.

What does “close contact with someone with a confirmed case of coronavirus” mean?

A confirmed case of coronavirus means someone who has been tested and found to have coronavirus. Close contact with a confirmed case means:

• living in the same house
• contact with their body fluids
• face-to-face contact, for example talking for more than a few minutes
• being coughed on
• being within 2 metres of the person for more than 15 minutes

How should I self-isolate myself if I think I have coronavirus?

If there's a chance you could have coronavirus, call 111 and isolate yourself from other people.

This means you should:

• stay at home
• not go to work, school or public areas
• not use public transport or taxis
• ask friends, family members or delivery services to carry out errands for you
• try to avoid visitors to your home – it's OK for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food

You may need to do this for up to 14 days to help reduce the possible spread of infection. Please keep your Nurseplus branch informed if you require self-isolation.

I’m worried I’m at risk of contracting coronavirus whilst at work, what should I do?

The risk of carers, care home residents, service users in their own homes and relatives getting coronavirus in the UK is low. Simple hygiene measures like washing hands with soap and water regularly, and avoiding people who are unwell, can help stop viruses like coronavirus spreading.

There is no need for carers to be off work unless they have been:

• to Hubei province in China in the last 14 days
• to Iran, areas of northern Italy in lockdown or "special care zone" areas in South Korea since 19 February 2020
• to other parts of mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
• to other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar since 19 February 2020 and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
• in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus

Otherwise, you should continue to go to work or school as normal.

Do I need to avoid public transport, mass gatherings, festivals, concerts or places with crowds?

The only people who need to stay away from public places are people who have been:

• to Hubei province in China in the last 14 days
• to Iran, areas of northern Italy in lockdown or "special care zone" areas in South Korea since 19 February
• to other parts of mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
• to other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
• in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus

Otherwise, you should continue to go to work or school as normal.

Are face masks useful for preventing coronavirus?

Face masks play an important role in places like hospitals, but there is very little evidence of widespread benefit for the public.

I’ve recently travelled to a country that has cases of coronavirus, what should I do?

Call 111 immediately if you’ve been:

• to Hubei province in China in the last 14 days
• to Iran, areas of northern Italy in lockdown or "special care zone" areas in South Korea since 19 February
• to other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
• to other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath

At the moment there have been minimal cases of coronavirus outside of the areas listed here. If you have visited a country that is not listed here, you do not need to take any extra precautions at this time. Please keep your Nurseplus branch team updated as to the advice 111 have issued to you.

I’m about to travel abroad, but unsure of the risks?

If you're planning to travel abroad and are concerned about coronavirus, please check the country by country travel advice on GOV.UK.

Advice for people returning to the UK and travellers to the UK

You may need to get medical advice if you've recently travelled to the UK from somewhere with a higher risk of coronavirus.

These places are:

• Cambodia
• China
• Hong Kong
• Iran
• Italy – only northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini)
• Japan
• Laos
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Myanmar (Burma)
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Tenerife – only the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel
• Thailand
• Vietnam

If you've been to one of these places in the last 14 days, find out what to do using the NHS 111 online coronavirus service 

Do not go to a GP surgery or hospital. Call 111, stay indoors and avoid close contact with other people.

Got a question or need any advice concerning Coronavirus? Feel free to drop us an email at coronavirus@nurseplusuk.com Please ensure you state your job role if you are Nurseplus staff or are a client so that advice can be given accordingly.