Covid-19

At Invest In Care we are here to help with care during the coronavirus pandemic, We appreciate that we are going through unprecedented and challenging times. These have affected our daily life and we have had to adapt to a new way of living with Coronavirus in our communities.

Our main goal throughout this pandemic is to ensure that all our service users, families and staff remain as safe as possible. We are doing the utmost to ensure that we follow the latest advice and guidelines from the Government and Public Health England.

We are working tirelessly to ensure all adequate provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) is available – aprons, gloves, face masks, hand sanitisers and face shields, which are being supplied to all staff and service users regularly. Our team also are actively ensuring regular testing is being carried out by both service users and staff to keep everyone while ensuring our teams own safety, health and wellbeing.

Coronavirus Facts and Guidance

What is the coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause illnesses such as the common cold, to more severe conditions such as pneumonia, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome (SARS). The COVID-19 strain of coronavirus is new and not previously known.

What causes coronavirus?

Coronavirus spreads from person to person but it’s not yet known exactly how this happens. Similar viruses spread through the air, in droplets when someone coughs.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptoms of this coronavirus include:

respiratory symptoms (like those you have with a cold)
fever (high temperature of 38.7C/100F or above)
new continuous cough
shortness of breath
breathing difficulties

In more severe cases the virus can cause pneumonia, SARS (a severe form of pneumonia), kidney failure and death. It’s important to note though that many cases so far seem to have been mild. The most serious cases seem to have happened in people with pre-existing health conditions.

Which countries are affected?

Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in a number of countries around the world. Cases are being confirmed on an ongoing basis, with the World Health Organization (WHO) publishing situation reports daily which show the countries that are affected.

What’s happening in the UK?

The number of people who have been tested for coronavirus in the UK, and the number of confirmed cases, is being kept updated on the Gov.uk website by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Public Health England (PHE). The DHSC and PHE are working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to monitor the situation. The UK government has also released a coronavirus action plan.

Encouragingly, the UK is one of the first countries outside of China that has a specific diagnostic test for the virus. The DHSC has also produced clinical guidance on the virus, around detecting and diagnosing it.

‘High’ risk

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus as a pandemic (global outbreak of a disease). The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk level to high in the UK.

What to do if you have symptoms

If you have a cough or a high temperature, then you need to stay at home and self-isolate for seven days.

If you live with other people, then everyone in the household will need to stay at home for 14 days from the day you first got symptoms. If someone then develops symptoms, they will need to stay at home for seven days from the day the symptoms first appeared – regardless of where they are in the 14-day period.

You don’t need to contact NHS 111 to tell them you are doing this. And don’t go to your GP practice, hospital or pharmacy. If you can’t manage your symptoms, feel worse or symptoms don’t improve after seven days then use the 111 Coronavirus Service.

Details on exactly what you need to do can be found on the Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)