Coronavirus COVID-19 and local information

Following recent government announcements you are now able to go outside more than once a day to rest or for exercise purposes following social distancing guidelines.

This can be alone, with members of your household, or with one other person from outside your household while keeping 2 metres apart at all times.

A set of new guidance has been published on how people can safely travel to and participate in outdoor sports and recreation for their health and wellbeing. The guidance includes important information for:

• General public
• Personal trainers and coaches
• Providers of outdoor facilities
• Elite athletes and professional sportsmen and women

However the advice for clinically vulnerable groups, such as people aged 70 and over or with medical conditions, remains the same. If you are in this group you are advised to stay at home as much as possible and, if you do go out, take particular care to minimise contact with others outside your household.

If you are you are classified as extremely vulnerable on health grounds, or living in a household with a possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection the guidance is that you should remain at and exercise at home.

This guidance is aimed at young people and young adults and reminds everyone about how to stay safe and healthy during coronavirus. 

A new online portal aims to make it easier for care homes to have coronavirus test kits delivered.

All care home staff and residents in England are now eligible for testing, whether they have symptoms or not. Priority will be given to homes that look after the over 65s.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms and feel you cannot cope at home, your condition gets worse or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days.

Use NHS111 if the first instance if you have COVID-19 symptoms and would like medical advice. Please use NHS111 online if you have access to the internet.

People with hearing problems can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) service.

Only phone NHS111 if you do not have online access.

Follow the current government advice on self-isolation and social distancing (Minimum 2 metres physical distance from other people). Advice is being kept under constant review and you can find the latest guidance on social distancing, self-isolation, hand hygiene and more on the following websites:

www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

Bolton Council

UK Government

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• 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 immediately and wash your hands afterwards
• stay 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people, if you need to go outside

Now is a worrying time as we look to protect ourselves and others during the coronavirus outbreak. Below are some online resources to support you in looking after your mental health.

The Every Mind Matters website is a useful resource that you can access 24/7:

10 tips to help you if you are worried about coronavirus

Mental wellbeing while staying at home

For Information to help people dealing with a mental health crisis or emergency visit the NHS website

The NHS have produced a list of helplines and support groups who can offer expert advice to children, young people and adults NHS combined directory of support for MH 

If you are worried about keeping yourself or others safe, talk to someone. Call someone or chat via social media – this could be your family or friends.

You can also speak to the Samaritans, they have a 24-hour listening support service and you can talk to them about anything that is troubling you, no matter how difficult. Call free on 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website.

Shout offers confidential 24/7 crisis text support for times when you need immediate assistance. Text “GMBolton” to 85258 or visit the Shout Crisis Text Line.

The council has set up an emergency contact number for the extremely vulnerable people, who have been told to stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact (shielding), and who have no family or friends to support.
This group includes organ transplant recipients, those undergoing immunotherapy and people with specific conditions. If you are in this group, you will receive a letter from the government with further instructions.

Contact 01204 337 221, if you, or someone you care for, have received a letter from the government and require support.

The number will be open 8.30am – 5.30pm Mon – Fri and Sat 9am – 1.30pm.

The council will talk to you about your most urgent needs such as food, medicine or other requirements.

Alternatively, tell the council about any help you need using the online form and they will arrange for someone to call you back within 24 hours.

The Bolton Response Hub will then get those items to you or respond with other services. The hub is manned by staff from the council,  partners, plus volunteers.
If your charity or volunteer group would like to help with the coronavirus response, please contact Bolton CVS at info@boltoncvs.org.uk or 01204 546 055.

If you are not in one of these extremely vulnerable groups and have concerns please see www.bolton.gov.uk for the help available or ring 01204 333 333.

Information about Coronavirus is available in other languages. https://interpreternow.co.uk/coronavirus-nhs-111-for-bsl-users

Another website that includes collated coronavirus advice on staying safe and other advice in 20 different languages.

The NHS is “rallying the troops” for the war on coronavirus, with volunteers being called up to help vulnerable people stay safe and well at home.
The nation is looking for volunteers to help up to 1.5 million people who have been asked to shield themselves from coronavirus because of underlying health conditions.
Members of the public can sign up quickly and easily to become NHS Volunteer Responders, and can be called on to do simple but vital tasks such as:

• delivering medicines from pharmacies;
• driving patients to appointments;
• bringing them home from hospital;
• or making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home.

NHS Volunteer Responders is not intended to replace local groups helping their vulnerable neighbours but is an additional service provided by the NHS. Click here for more information

Feeling stressed about the coronavirus? SilverCloud can help you to maintain a healthy mind during this challenging time. SilverCloud offers online programmes to help ease your levels of stress, sleep better or to build resilience.

This service is now available to anyone over the age of 16.

Sign up: here
Use access code: GMCA2020

Staying at home during Ramadan plays an important part in the nation’s effort to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). We realise that this year Ramadan will be different, and that spending it without family and friends may be challenging.

Please see below  Ramadan messages from the UK government:

Public Health England – Advice