Please wear a face covering at all times when visiting our services. Patients and members of the public may wear a face mask, but a face covering is enough and we thank you for complying with this additional safety measure introduced from Monday 15 June.

Wearing a face covering will help limit the spread of COVID-19, and protect others from the virus.

For the face covering to be effective, please be aware that:

• it should cover your nose and mouth while allowing you to breathe comfortably
• you should wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before putting it on and taking it off. Please avoid touching the front or the inside of the covering, and handle it by the ear loops or ties
• when wearing the face covering, avoid touching your face at all times.

You should follow other infection control safety measures when visiting our hospitals, including social distancing and regular hand washing.

Government advice:

• How to wear and make your own face covering.
• Guidance on use of face coverings.

Understanding local COVID alert levels

The government is committed to ensuring the right levels of intervention in the right places to manage outbreaks. The approach has been simplified so that there are now 3 local COVID alert levels.

Check the alert level in your local area

See the guidance on:

• Local COVID levels and what you need to know

There is separate advice about:

Guidance on shielding for the clinically extremely vulnerable 

If you are in this group, you will previously have received a letter from the NHS or from your GP telling you this. You may have been advised to shield in the past.

The guidance has been updated based on the local COVID alert level in your area. This advice is less restrictive than previous shielding advice.

• More detailed guidance, including how to access support
• Specific guidance for areas with an outbreak of coronavirus

Important information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to protect patients, our community and NHS staff while ensuring as many services as possible are available to the public.

• Symptoms and what to do
• Self-isolation if you or someone you live with has symptoms
• More information

If you have symptoms associated with coronavirus including a new continuous cough, a high temperature or loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, you are advised to stay at home for ten days. Please do not book a GP appointment or attend your GP practice.

If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home. After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine.

But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for ten days from the day their symptoms start, even if it means they’re at home for longer than 14 days. The most up-to-date public guidance is always online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

NHS Test and Trace service

Get a test to check if you have coronavirus, understand your test result and find out what to do if you’re contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

• Get an antigen test to check if you have Coronavirus now
• What your test result means
• If you’re contacted after testing positive for coronavirus
• If you’ve been in contact with a person who has coronavirus

NHS Test and Trace: how it works

NHS 111 online support via text message for people with Covid-19 symptoms 

• People self-isolating with suspected coronavirus symptoms will get regular check-ins from a new NHS 111 online messaging service. Visit 111.nhs.uk  to get to the NHS 111 Online assessment pages.

Once individuals have been through the online assessment, daily texts will be sent to those who have registered their Covid-19 symptoms and left contact details.

Oxford Health has launched 24/7 mental health helplines for adults and children in all our regions

Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire – freephone

Adults: 0800 783 0119
Children and young people: 0800 783 0121

Bath and North East Somerset

Wiltshire

Swindon

Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:

Do

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• wash your hands as soon as you get back home
• 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

Don’t

• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

Getting the right information

• It is important to ensure that you are getting accurate information from the right sources. The Government and the NHS are keeping people informed of new advice and developments. Please check the following sources of advice frequently:
• The NHS coronavirus (COVID-19) page includes a wide range of guidance and health-related information for you.
• The UK coronavirus (COVID-19) page will keep you informed on how the Government is responding.
• Follow Public Health England or The Department of Health and Social Care on Twitter for regular updates.

Disinformation

The current pandemic has paved the way for the spread disinformation in the form of misleading news and information about Coronavirus. When shared, false information can have some serious consequences. It can lead to health scares, false accusations and potentially damaging hoax stories. Cabinet Office are running a campaign to prevent Coronavirus disinformation, asking the public to stop and think before sharing content and to use the SHARE checklist to identify when information might be false. You can find the SHARE checklist here.