Pharmacist Olutayo Arikawe
CORONAVIRUS: NEW RULES ON STAYING AT HOME AND AWAY FROM OTHERS
The most important action we can all take to fight coronavirus is to stay at home. This will save lives and protect the NHS.
Anyone can spread Coronavirus and that is why the government has introduced new measures which are effective now and will initially last for the three weeks.
We must all follow these new measures.
The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given the powers to enforce them.
So what do the new rules actually mean?
STAYING AT HOME
The only reasons to leave home are:
- To shop for basic necessities or pick up medicine
- To travel to work when you absolutely cannot work from home
- To exercise once a day, alone or with members of your household
Even when doing these activities, you should reduce time spent outside of the home and always try to stay 2 metres apart from anyone you do not live with.
STOPPING PUBLIC GATHERINGS
To make sure people are staying at home and apart from each other, the Government has also stopped all public gatherings of more than two people.
We must not meet others, even friends and family.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF?
Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser.
Man washing his hands. Photo courtesy https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
HOW CAN WE ALL ADAPT TO THESE NEW RULES?
The best thing you can do now is plan for how you can adapt your daily routine. Some of the ways in which you could prepare include:
- talk to your neighbours and family and exchange phone numbers of household contacts
- consider and plan for those in your home who are considered vulnerable
- create a contact list with phone numbers of neighbours, schools, employer, chemist, NHS 111
- set up online shopping accounts if possible
Pharmacist Olutayo Arikawe said: “It is vital that everyone from the black community follows these new rules, I cannot stress this enough. The rules have been put into place to reduce our day to day contact with other people, they are a vital part of our efforts to reduce the rate of transmission of coronavirus. We know it’s not going to be easy, however, if we all follow these new rules, the measures will protect the NHS and save lives.”
Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
