Stonehouse Holistic Centre

COVID-19 Coronavirus Information.

The main course of action regarding the recent coronavirus is prevention and good hygiene practices. 80% of cases have been recorded as mild.

Patients using the clinic.

All patients are asked that they do not attend the clinic if you show any signs or you are not confident of your current state of health.

Immediate signs of concern are:

• Sore Throat
• Dry Cough
• Fever
• Sneezing
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty Breathing (medical assistance is required)

If you have travelled outside of the UK in the past 4-6 weeks please call the clinic on 01453 828000 before booking appointments.

Students attending public venues

• If you feel you are showing any signs of illness, please DO NOT attend your public event/class.
• When using venues please be mindful of possible contamination on surfaces especially door handle and metal surfaces.
• Remove yourself from the immediate space of those around you if you need to cough or sneeze.

The two main actions are : (full details of hygiene actions are below in the ‘Home Advice’ section)

 Cover your coughs and sneezes

 Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze. Carers of others undergoing testing for 2019-nCoV infection should use disposable tissues to wipe away any mucus or phlegm after they have sneezed or coughed.

Dispose of tissues into a plastic waste bag (see note 10. below for managing rubbish), and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds rinse and dry thoroughly. Carers should wash their hands as well as helping the person they are caring for following coughing or sneezing

 Wash your hands

 Wash your hands or assist the person you are caring for in washing their hands. This should be done often and thoroughly with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry thoroughly. The same applies to those caring for anyone that is being tested for SARS-CoV-2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

 Risk level

 Based on the World Health Organization’s declaration that this is a public health emergency of international concern, the UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the UK from low to moderate.

 Returning travellers

 Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people immediately if you’ve travelled to the UK from:

• Hubei province in China in the last 14 days, even if you do not have symptoms
• Iran, lockdown areas in northern Italy or special care zones in South Korea since 19 February, even if you do not have symptoms
• other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan or Thailand in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)
• other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)

 Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next.

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours. In Northern Ireland call 0300 200 7885.

 What does self-isolating mean?

 If you have been told to self-isolate, you will need to get to the place you are going to stay, once there remain indoors and avoid contact with other people. This will prevent you from spreading the disease to your family, friends and the wider community.

In practical terms, this means that once you reach your residence you must:

• stay at home
• not go to work, school or public areas
• not use public transport like buses, trains, tubes or taxis
• avoid visitors to your home
• ask friends, family members or delivery services to carry out errands for you – such as getting groceries, medications or other shopping.

If I do not have any symptoms, do I need to self-isolate?

It is important that if you fall in any of the groups listed above, you follow the relevant self-isolation advice even if you do not have any symptoms.

What if I get symptoms during those 14 days?

 If you experience a cough, a fever, or breathing difficulties, call NHS111 and tell them you are being asked to self-isolate because of coronavirus. If you have been given a designated medical contact point you can also contact them for advice. They will talk you through the next steps.

Even if the symptoms seem like mild respiratory symptoms, it is better to call for advice.

 How do I get food or supplies?

It is fine for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food for you. Alternatively, you can order by phone or online, such as through take away services or online shopping deliveries. However, make sure you tell the delivery driver that the items are to be left outside, or in the porch, or as appropriate for your home.

I live with other people, how do I self-isolate?

 It is important that you separate yourself from other people in your home and if you share facilities like toilets and bathrooms, regular cleaning will be required.

You should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened, separate from other people in your home.

In the home advice below, there are specific recommendations in the case that a separate bathroom is not available, if you live in shared accommodation, and if you share a kitchen with others, and these should be followed closely.

What if I have other responsibilities, such as work and taking care of family?

 Unfortunately, if you have COVID-19 or are at higher risk of being infected, we must prioritise reducing the risk of transmitting the disease to others, particularly to people who may be more vulnerable such as older people or people with health conditions.

During an outbreak, it is important that we all do everything we can to reduce the risk of further spread of the infection. This will require understanding and support from employers, family members and friends.

• Talk to those around you, including your employer, about the importance of self-isolation to reduce the risk of spreading infection at work. If you are well, you can work from home
• Make plans with your family and friends on how to manage shopping, dropping children to schools and events
• Ask people to not visit your house for your duration; if you need a healthcare or care visit at home during this time, inform them that you are self-isolating in advance so that they can follow their local employers guidance

 I am finding this hard, what should I do?

 We understand that for some people self-isolation can be boring or frustrating. You may find your mood and feelings being affected and you may feel low, worried or have problems sleeping. You may also feel isolated and alone.

However, we would not ask you to do this if it was not important. There are simple things you can do that may help, such as staying in touch with friends and relatives on the phone or by social media and you may find it helpful to talk to them, if you want to.

Home Advice

Stay at home

You or the person you are caring for should remain in your home, except for getting medical care (see sections 3 and 8 before getting medical care). Do not go to work, school, or public areas, and do not use public transport or taxis until you have been told that is safe to do so.

You will need to ask for help if you require groceries, other shopping or medications. Alternatively, you can order by phone or online. The delivery instruction needs to state that the items are to be left outside, or in the porch, or as appropriate for your home.

Separate yourself from other people in your home*

 You should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window to the outside that can be opened, separate from other people in your home. Keep the door closed.

 Use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household, if available. If you have to share these facilities, regular cleaning will be required. If a separate bathroom is not available, consideration should be given to drawing up a bathroom rota for washing or bathing, with the isolated person using the facilities last, before thoroughly cleaning the bathroom themselves (if able or appropriate*). Ensure the isolated person uses separate towels from other household members, both for drying themselves after bathing or showering and for hand hygiene purposes.

 If you live in shared accommodation (university halls of residence or similar) with a communal kitchen, bathroom(s) and living area, you should stay in your room with the door closed, only coming out when necessary, wearing a facemask if one has been issued to you.

 If you share a kitchen with others (such as university halls of residence or similar), and if possible, avoid using it whilst others are present. If this is not possible then wear a facemask if you have been issued with one. Take your meals back to your room to eat. Use a dishwasher (if available) to clean and dry your used crockery and cutlery. If this is not possible, wash them by hand using detergent and warm water and dry them thoroughly, using a separate tea towel.

 If these recommendations cannot be implemented, then home isolation should be avoided.

Call ahead before visiting your doctor

 All medical appointments should be discussed in advance with your designated medical contact, using the number that has been provided to you. This is so the surgery or hospital can take steps to minimise contact with others.

 Wear a facemask if advised to

 If you have been provided with facemasks, then you should wear the mask when you are in the same room with other people and when you visit a healthcare provider. If you cannot wear a facemask, the people who live with you should wear one while they are in the same room with you.

Cover your coughs and sneezes

 Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze. Carers of others undergoing testing for 2019-nCoV infection should use disposable tissues to wipe away any mucus or phlegm after they have sneezed or coughed.

Dispose of tissues into a plastic waste bag (see note 10. below for managing rubbish), and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds rinse and dry thoroughly. Carers should wash their hands as well as helping the person they are caring for following coughing or sneezing

 Wash your hands

 Wash your hands or assist the person you are caring for in washing their hands. This should be done often and thoroughly with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry thoroughly. The same applies to those caring for anyone that is being tested for SARS-CoV-2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid sharing household items

 You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding or other items with other people in your home when you have used them (or after your child or the person you are caring for has used them). After using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and water; dishwashers may be used to clean crockery and cutlery.

Laundry, bedding and towels should be placed in a plastic bag and washed once it is known that the tests for SARS-CoV-2 are negative. If this is not possible and you need to wash the laundry see below for further advice on handling laundry.

Monitor your symptoms (or the person you are caring for, as appropriate)

 Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening, for example, if you have difficulty breathing, or if the person you are caring for symptoms are worsening. If it’s not an emergency, you should call your designated medical contact point using the number that has been provided to you.

If it is an emergency and you need to call an ambulance, inform the call handler or operator that you are being tested for SARS-CoV-2 (or that you are caring for someone being tested for SARS-CoV-2, as appropriate).

Do not have visitors in your home

 Only those who live in your home should be allowed to stay. Do not invite or allow visitors to enter. If you think there is an essential need for someone to visit, then discuss it with your designated medical contact first. If it is urgent to speak to someone who is not a member of your household, do this over the phone.

If you have pets in the household

 Try to keep away from your pets. If this is unavoidable, wash your hands before and after contact.

Waste

 All waste that has been in contact with the individual, including used tissues, and masks if used, should be put in a plastic rubbish bag and tied when full. The plastic bag should then be placed in a second bin bag and tied.

Do not dispose of it or put it out for collection until you know that patient does not have novel coronavirus.

Should the individual test positive, you will be instructed what to do with the waste.