Talk of the coronavirus is everywhere, and you probably aren’t alone in wondering exactly what you should be doing to stay safe.
Note: On Monday 16th March, Boris Johnson advised that we all stop non-essential social contact and unnecessary travel. If you, or anyone in your household, has a new and continuous cough or a high temperature, everyone in the house should self-isolate for fourteen days.
News of the coronavirus outbreak is everywhere, and you may feel more at risk if you’re in university and living in shared accommodation. With information changing daily, it can be hard to know what’s best to do. The most key thing that we think you need to remember, is to not let the news around the virus panic you. Take any necessary steps to keep yourself safe and reduce your chances of catching COVID-19.
What is the Coronavirus?
The coronavirus is a family of viruses that cause illness, similarly to a cold, in animals and humans. As the virus is new, experts are uncertain about certain aspects and a cure is yet to be found. It’s rapid outbreak caused it to be declared as a world wide pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday 11th March.
Main symptoms include:
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Dry cough.
You may also experience:
- Aches and pains
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Diarrhoea.
Self-isolation
On Monday 16th March, Boris Johnson advised that we all stop non-essential social contact and unnecessary travel.
If you, anyone in your household, or anyone you come into contact with experiences any symptoms, you should self-isolate for fourteen days. This means staying at home other than for trips for essentials such as food / medicines. Any coughs or sneezes should be caught in a tissue and disposed of. It’s also advised to wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds regularly throughout the day.
As NHS 111 and the NHS as a whole are under a lot of strain, we’re encouraged to only use these services when absolutely necessary. Use the information available on the NHS website and NHS 111 online is possible.
How do I self-isolate in shared accommodation?
Self-isolating may be more difficult when living in shared accommodation, but there are steps you can take to be extra cautious.
- Keep at least two metres away from other people in the house, particularly if you live with anyone who’s older or who has a long-term health condition
- Ask others to bring you things like food and medicines, but avoid direct contact with them (anything you’re brought should be left outside your door)
- Sleep alone
- Regularly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, using soap and warm water
- Wipe down sides with anti-bacterial products, before and after use (don’t forget about door handles!)
- Drink lots of water and take paracetamol to help with your symptoms
- Hot drinks are particularly recommended to help kill the virus – avoid ice cold drinks or drinks with ice-cubes in
Most universities have moved their teaching online so stay updated with what is still available to you. News is changing daily, so keep yourself in the know by catching up with government advice. Visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus for the most current information from the authorities. Stay safe guys!
