Coronavirus: Britons returning from northern Italy told to self-isolate

We are continuing to keep you updated on the government’s response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Public Health England advises that the risk to individuals in the UK remains low.

Advice for those who have travelled recently

Yesterday, the Chief Medical Advisor for England, Chris Whitty updated advice for travellers returning to the UK from specific areas affected by COVID-19, which you can find at:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Please share this guidance with your staff and cascade as appropriate.

If you have returned from the following specific areas since 19th February, you should call NHS 111 and stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms:

Iran Specific lockdown areas in Northern Italy (see link to maps below) Special care zones in South Korea (see link to maps below) Hubei province (returned in the past 14 days – see link to maps below)

If you have returned from the following areas since 19 February and develop symptoms, however mild, you should stay indoors at home and avoid contact with other people immediately and call NHS 111:

Northern Italy (defined by a line above, and not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini – see link to maps below) Vietnam Cambodia Laos Myanmar

If you have a cough, or fever or shortness of breath and have visited any of the following areas in the last 14 days, stay indoors and call NHS 111 informing them of your recent travel:

China, apart from Hubei province (see link to maps below) Thailand Japan Republic of Korea, apart from special care zones (see link to maps below) Hong Kong Taiwan Singapore Malaysia Macau

Maps showing affected regions of China, Republic of Korea and Italy

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas

Advice for those who have travelled recently in a group, such as a school trip

There is no need to manage returning groups any differently. Pupils, students and staff returning from trips to the countries specified above should follow the same advice.

Where to find the latest information

Public Health England blog:
https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/

Guidance for educational settings
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

Encouraging good hygiene As always, if you have symptoms of a cold or flu, then there are measures you can take to stop germs: ·         always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel. ·         wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available. ·         avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. ·         avoid close contact with people who are unwell. Latest information Updates on Coronavirus: ·         https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas: ·         https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus Public Health England blog: ·         https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/