Please read carefully – more people are now eligible for COVID-19 testing – the symptoms and advice has changed.
Depending on your symptoms, you may not have to isolate.
We thank you for everything you and your household are already doing in these challenging times. In light of new evidence, it has been decided to widen the eligibility for testing.
The three main symptoms of Covid-19 are still:
- Fever (37.8 C or above)
- Cough
- Change or loss of sense of taste or smell
However, a wider range of symptoms MAY be associated with Covid-19 infection, if they are new, persistent, or unusual for you, and are not caused or explained by a condition such as hay fever.
The new wider symptoms of Covid-19 are:
| Feeling unusually tired General ‘flu-like aches and pains (myalgia) Sore throat and / or hoarseness Shortness of breath or wheezing Persistent headache Runny or blocked nose Feeling sick (nausea), vomiting or diarrhoea |
If you, or a member of your household, has one or more of the ‘wider symptoms’ it does not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. However, we are being extra cautious and recommend testing to people with any of the ‘wider symptoms’ above.
| If you, or anyone in your household, develops ONE OR MORE OF THE THREE MAIN SYMPTOMS Fever (37.8 C or above) Cough Change, or loss of, sense of taste or smell Then please Book a PCR test: https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or ‘phone 119. Isolate your whole household for 10 days from the date the symptoms started. Do not visit a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. If you need medical advice please contact NHS 111 or ‘phone your GP; if there’s a medical emergency ‘phone 999. Follow the advice provided when you receive your test result. If you have a negative PCR test result but still feel unwell, stay at home until you feel better. If your test is negative, your household can come out of isolation. If you get any of the three symptoms again you may need to get tested again. If your test is positive, you will receive further advice. |
| If you, or anyone in your household, develops ONE OR MORE OF THE WIDER SYMPTOMS (but not one of the three main symptoms) Then please Book a PCR test: https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test and select ‘get a free PCR test’, then select ‘My local council or health protection team has asked me to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms’ or ‘phone 119 .If you have one or more of the wider symptoms BUT NOT ONE OF THE THREE MAIN SYMPTOMS then neither the person taking the test, nor anyone in their household, needs to isolate and can go to school or work as usual while waiting for their test results. However, households must isolate if anyone develops any of the 3 main COVID-19 symptoms while waiting for a test result, taken because of wider symptoms to come back. If the test result is positive, then the person will need to go home straight away and the household will need to isolate for 10 days from the date of the positive swab. Children and adults with diarrhoea and / or vomiting should remain off work or school until they are symptom free for 48 hours, even if their Covid-19 test is negative. |
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, there are things that everyone in your family can do to help. Please continue to:
- Wash your hands with soap and water often, and for at least 20 seconds.
- Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water aren’t available.
- Wash your hands as soon as you arrive 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 straight away, then wash your hands.
- Follow the rules on meeting people and social distancing at all times.
Further information on self-isolation can be found here:
Further formation on Test, Trace, Protect can be found here:
For general information on COVID-19:
The COVID-19 online symptom checker can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do:
Thank you very much for your continued help and support.
