Information Coronavirus health advice and Government measures

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The council is monitoring the situation regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) closely and is liaising regularly with experts at Public Health England, the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS, Devon County Council and others. We are taking all possible steps to keep East Devon’s residents, visitors, businesses and our staff safe.

The Government has brought in guidance aimed at trying to delay the spread of the virus.

The symptoms and guidance are: 

Symptoms

The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above you must stay at home and arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19 – go to testing to arrange.

What to do if you show symptoms

• if you live alone and you have symptoms of Coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started. 
• if you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of Coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
• it is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
• If you are self-isolating because you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID 19 you do not need to tell 111 that you are staying at home. Advice is available on what it means to self-isolate. 
• Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) must immediately self-isolate and arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19. See the GOV.UK testing page to arrange.
• These measures are in addition to the key message from health professionals which is to wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap.
• For children, you may want to show them this video produced by the NHS showing them how to wash their hands with a catchy song. 

Additional measures

Borders/international visitors 

When you arrive in the UK, you must self-isolate for 14 days.

In England, if you do not self-isolate, you can be fined £1,000. If you do not provide an accurate contact detail declaration – or do not update your contact detail form in the limited circumstances where you need to move to another place to self-isolate – you can be fined up to £3,200.

The Foreign & Commonwealth (FCO) advised British people against all non-essential travel worldwide. This applies for an indefinite period due to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions. All countries may restrict travel without notice. 

All arrivals including British nationals will be required to provide their contact information and self-isolate upon arrival, other than those on a short list of exemptions.

Full guidance can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Key workers

A full list of key workers has been provided by central government. 

Coronavirus advice in Devon

Devon County Council is providing daily updates on the coronavirus situation - coronavirus advice in Devon - with links to guidance covering the following:

• Latest updates - number of UK cases, latest test figures, number of cases by local authority area.
• Schools and families
• Care homes, vulnerable and older people
• Business and employers
• Communities and voluntary sector organisations
• Public transport and public places
• Warning about scams
• Your wellbeing

• Useful links, ranging from NHS pages to ACAS advice for employers and employees.