Coronavirus Physical and Mental well-being

Coronavirus will potentially be prevalent for ever, and as such we need to adapt our way of life to be able to  to manage with the risk of it. 

Our first suggestion is Stay Healthy! 

Hence we have supplemented the information we already provide all our staff about physical and mental health with some simple top tips to staying healthy. 

Although no one yet knows why some people are affected more seriously than other with coronavirus, if you stay healthy you have at least attempted to lower your risk.  

Maintain your physical and mental health

Top 10 tips to Physical Health

  1. Maintain a healthy weight
  2. Drink less alcohol
  3. Exercise regularly
  4. Eat five a day (Heathy food is key to physical and mental health)
  5. Eat less salt and fat
  6. Quit smoking
  7. Check that lump (do not ignore health worries)
  8. Sleep well
  9. Reduce your Stress levels
  10. Work mental well-being

10 top tips for good mental health

  • Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is really important for our physical and mental health. …
  • Eat well. …
  • Avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs. …
  • Get plenty of sunlight. …
  • Manage stress. …
  • Activity and exercise. …
  • Do something you enjoy. …
  • Connect with others and be sociable

Inform us if you develop symptoms

Only staff who are symptom-free or have completed the required isolation period or have had a negative test result will be able to work at our settings.

Staff will sign a ‘Health Declaration’ each morning to state that they have been symptom free since they last worked. 
Temperatures may be self-monitored during the day, if staff start to feel unwell
 

We will consider the symptoms to be those published on the NHS website. No other symptoms count e.g. sore throats. As of 20th May these are : –

/https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/

  • a high temperature (over 37.8°C or over) – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal1
th
May 2020)
. No other
symptoms count e.g. sore throats
a high temperature
– this 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 (if you usually have a
cough, it may be worse than usual)
The isolation period is as follows
If you have symptoms
If you have symptoms of coronavirus, self-isolate for 7 days.
After 7 days:
if you do not have a high temperature, you can stop self-isolating
if you still have a high temperature, keep self-isolating until your
temperature returns to normal
You do not need to keep self-isolating if you just have a cough after 7 days. A
cough can last for weeks after the infection has gone.
If you live with someone who has symptoms
If you live with someone who has symptoms, self-isolate for 14 days from the day
their symptoms started.
This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear.
If more than 1 person at home has symptoms, self-isolate for 14 days from the
day the first person started having symptoms.
If you get symptoms while self-isolating
– you should self-isolate for 7
days from when your symptoms started, even if it means you’re self-
isolating for longer than 14 days.
If you do not get symptoms while self-isolating
– you can stop self-
isolating after 14 days.

Isolate until you have a test result (positive or negative)

If you or any of your household has symptoms of COVID-19, you should self-isolate until the symptomatic person has a test result. 

If you test positive for COVID-19, self-isolate for 7 days.

After 7 days:

  • if you do not have a high temperature, you can stop self-isolating
  • if you still have a high temperature, keep self-isolating until your temperature returns to normal

You do not need to keep self-isolating if you just have a cough after 7 days. A cough can last for weeks after the infection has gone.

If you live with someone who tests positive for COV-19, self-isolate for 14 days (as soon as they develop symptoms, they should book and have a test)

This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear.

If you become symptomatic, there is no need to have a test, as it can be assumed you have caught it. However, you will now have to self isolate for 7 days from the onset of your symptoms (even if this means you have to isolate for longer than 14 days). 

Accessing a COVID-19 test

If you, a child or someone in your household becomes symptomatic of COVID-19, you will need to arrange a test for yourself or your family. 

Essential Worker Self-booking (Priority)

Employer Booking (Priority)

Child testing (Non-priority)

Talk to us about any worries

Remember we are here to support you. 

We are a caring team, who needs to work together to have a happy work environment. 

We are here to listen to all your concerns, worries and anxieties. 

We have always asked staff to share their issues rather than internalise them. 

We ask you again to discuss you problems with the management team, rather than let it fester within.