The sections below are a summary of the most recent government advice. There are five categories, two of which require you to request help via the Good Neighbours Scheme.
1. Healthy, No Symptoms, Any Age
Stay at home and only leave for one of these four reasons:
- Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
- One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk (you or the dog) , or cycle – alone or with members of your household
- Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
- Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home
Also
- Keep at least 2 metres (3 paces) away from other people
- Wash your hands on your return to home
2. With Underlying Health Conditions But Not Notified by the NHS, or Aged 70+, or Pregnant
A health condition means:
- chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
- chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
- chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
- diabetes
- problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
- being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
Follow the same steps as group 1 but be particularly stringent with your social isolation approach.
3. With Symptoms
- If you live alone and have symptoms, isolate for seven days: stay in your home or garden at all times
- If you live with others and one of you has symptoms, isolate for fourteen days: stay in your home or garden at all times
Also
- Make contact with the village volunteers
- Notify them that you have symptoms
- Make arrangements for your shopping, prescriptions and errands to be carried out
4. High Risk: With Underlying Health Issues And Have Been Contacted by the NHS
Health risks include:
- people who have received an organ transplant and remain on ongoing immunosuppression medication
- people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia who are at any stage of treatment
- people with severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma (requiring hospital admissions or courses of steroid tablets)
- people with severe diseases of body systems, such as severe kidney disease (dialysis)
Isolate for twelve weeks: stay in your home or garden at all times
Also
- Make contact with the village volunteers
- Let them know your situation so we can respond accordingly
- Make arrangements for your shopping, prescriptions and errands to be carried out
5. Voluntary Isolation
- If necessary make contact with the village volunteers and make arrangements for your shopping, prescriptions and errands to be carried out
Referenced Government Guidance
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults
We have list of willing volunteers ready to help at this difficult time. Please call on their generous offer and enable yourself to stay away from the virus.
