Please remember that COVID-19 is still with us so it’s important you continue to manage the risks to yourself and others.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can include:
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick
The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.
COVID-19, along with many other respiratory infections such as influenza (flu), can spread easily and cause serious illness in some people. You may be infected with a respiratory virus such as COVID-19 and not have any symptoms but still pass infection onto others.
Getting vaccinated is a key part of the government’s Living with Covid plan. It is also important to reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus by:
- Opening windows or meeting other outdoors
- Think about wearing a face covering in crowded places
- Continue to test and stay at home if positive
Click here Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for actions you can take to protect yourself and other people from becoming infected,
If you have symptoms of Covid 19 or other respiratory illness, or have a positive test, try to stay at home until you no longer feel unwell and avoid contact with other people, particularly those who are at risk of becoming seriously ill if they get the virus. If you are employed, talk to your employer about the options available to you.
The link here - People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) tells you more about the symptoms, and what you can do if you have symptoms and have not taken a test, or if you have tested positive for Covid19.
Testing
From 1 April, PCR and Lateral Flow testing sites across the city closed.
Testing kits will no longer be free of charge from local pharmacies or the government website.
We encourage all residents to continue testing to keep themselves and others safe and it is important that if you feel unwell stay at home.
Lateral flows will be available from suppliers at a cost and prices of these may vary.
Please note: A small number of people who are at high risk from COVID-19 will still be able to receive FREE NHS tests.
For the most up-to-date information on testing visit:
Vaccinations
Vaccines are still our best defence against COVID-19 and they are available for everyone aged five and above.
The follow vaccine doses are available:
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1st and 2nd doses for people who are 5 years old and over
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additional primary doses for people with a severely weakened immune system aged 5 years old and over
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1st booster for people aged 16 years old and over, plus at-risk children aged 12 to 15 years old
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a seasonal booster (spring booster) will be offered to some people, including over-75s, immunosuppressed and residents in care homes for older adults
Please wait to be invited for your seasonal (spring) booster by the NHS if you are eligible. The NHS will confirm the start date of the spring booster campaign in due course.
If you're a parent of a child aged 5-11 read this guide to the vaccine on the Gov.UK website.
The COVID-19 autumn booster programme - which started on 5 September 2022 and ended on 12 February 2023 - saw 17.46 million jabs given to eligible people including those aged 50 and over, residents in care homes, people aged 5 and over in an at risk group, and health and social care staff.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccinations, click the link below:
To book your vaccine or check your closest vaccination site visit:
FAQ's
Do you have symptoms of a respiratory infection?
People with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, and a high temperature or who feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.
Do you have a positive COVID-19 test result?
Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test result is advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days, which is when they are most infectious.
If you need to leave your home when you have symptoms or have tested positive, avoid close contact with people with a weakened immune system, wear a face-covering and avoid crowded places.
More information can be found below: