Coronavirus – What you need to know

Posted:
12 Feb 2020

What is Coronavirus?

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.

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.

Like other viruses, 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.


What is the advice to stop the spread of Coronavirus

People are advised to:

  • Always carry tissues and use them to catch coughs and sneezes and bin the tissue.
  • Wash hands with soap and water, or use sanitiser gel to kill germs.
  • If you have arrived back from China within the 14 days follow the advice below.



Advice for travellers

If you have travelled from Wuhan or Hubei Province to the UK in the last 14 days, you should immediately:

  • Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu.
  • Phone your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.

Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus.



This advice also applies to travellers who have returned to the UK from the following areas:

  • China
  • Thailand
  • Japan
  • Republic of Korea
  • Hong Kong
  • Taiwan
  • Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • Macau



Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus