1. Remember not to be terrified - most people will only suffer minor flu-like symptoms. Firstly, to explain self-isolation, in case you have the symptoms. If you don't understand what the symptoms are, or you think you have it, please click the link above: "I'm Showing Symptoms".
2. Self-Isolation is for people who are showing symptoms of the Corona-Virus (AKA Covid-19/SARS CoV-19). If you do develop symptoms in the future, immediately call 119 and book a test.
3. You won't be able to get a test if you just turn up at the hospital without being admitted for existing health conditions. If you have self-isolated for seven days and you continue to have symptoms, you should call 111 and take further advice and continue to self-isolate (if you live alone - there is separate instructions for people who live with others - everybody should self-isolate until the last person who has shown symptoms has self-isolated for fourteen days and no longer shows symptoms.
4. Self-Isolation is about the protection of everybody, including your family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues and the wider community. If you do not have symptoms and you are expected to travel to work, push your Employer to allow home working unless its absolutely necessary and try to avoid public transport. Wead a mask if you have to travel on public transport unless you suffer with a condition that is on the exceptions from mask wearing list. You will soon (as of July 2020) have to wear a mask at the shops too. Rules around wearing masks apply to everybody but if you have symptoms, you should be self isolating and not travelling or visiting shops or anywhere else anyway.
5. Self-Isolation is also about protecting Contractors calling at your home, the emergency services, Avro Hollows' TMO, Manchester City Council, Northwards' staff and volunteers and the CDIRF team who all need to help as many people as possible. These people will all, in turn, come into contact with people. By not going out at all if you have the symptoms, and keeping the 1 metre (3 foot) plus distance the rest of the time, you help us all to avoid spreading the virus. Keep your head in gear!
6. Wash your hands with soap and water often - please do this for at least 20 seconds. Use genuine hand sanitiser wherever possible too.
7. Always wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you get to a place that you can, whenever there is an opportunity when you go out and as often as possible.
8. Use hand santiser gel if soap and water is not available (if you can get hold of it) - Linda Brokenshire, Estate Manager at Avro Hollows' Tenant Management Organisation has installed hand sanitiser in all tower blocks in reception areas - please do not refill it or remove it. This will be placed under cameras to avoid the odd person who would consider it OK to steal it.
9. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze. If you do accidentally sneeze or cough straight into your hands - do not touch anything and wash your hands (as above). There is now a strong suggestion that people can spread the Corona Virus before getting the symptoms or without getting the symptoms at all: "super-spreaders".
10. Please put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands as soon as you possibly can (as above).
11. Try to avoid close contact (in person) with people who are unwell (but please support your neighbours with the front door staying shut as a barrier if they have come down with it) - or phone - people really appreciate a supportive voice at their lowest ebb (you could also Skype if you have data or similar and do video). Please respect those who just want to rest in peace and quiet alone - some do - it's not personal
12. Never spit in public places or disgard your gum in public places - please use a toilet if you must. Report people that do to the Estate Office (or to us), in confidence, keeping a note of the date and time for the purposes of estate CCTV.
13. Make sure rubbish goes into wheeled bins please around the estate, this stops foxes ripping open the bin bags. It's worth making sure your bin bag is weighty enough to stop it blowing back out of the bin too but you could avoid throwing tissues away in a bin bag if you are at home as you could flush them straight down the loo (obviously don't block your loo with anything else though!!)
14. If you do go on to have the symptoms of the virus, double bag rubbish and wait 72 hours before taking it outside. Don’t recycle anything that saliva could have come into contact with (drinks cans etc).
15. Anything small could go down the rubbish shoots but please make sure you bag it and double tie the bag to protect the binmen and caretakers. All such rubbish can currently be disposed of with your normal waste. Wheeled Bins are being emptied as normal.
16. When fussing any of your pets or other people’s pets, please wash your hands before and after - this is in case other people have fussed them and there is also some suggestion that humans can pass on the Corona Virus to animals such that they become sick (although it is said that they can’t directly pass it back, other than in their fur).
17. Never shake hands as it means you are not keeping your distance and you are putting yourself and others at risk - we love shaking people's hands and this is gutting, come up with your own code and say "i'd normally shake your hand but..." As I write, I bowed my head to someone the other day - that worked!
18. Only travel on public transport if you really need to - Transport for Manchester has nearly got bus services back to normal but tram services are stopping very early. They say this is to impose more cleaning of vehicles including trams and buses. You might also find that some train services are affected. It is now a legal requirement to wear a mask on all public transport unless you are exempt due to a medical exemption, you could get a hefty fine otherwise. With the nicer weather, consider walking or cycling.
19. Work from home, if you can - if you were furloughed and it is essential for you to travel to your place of work, the government is now saying that you should and they are cutting back on furloughing.
20. Some cinemas and pubs are now back open - if they can demonstrate that they can ensure social distancing. Pubs are being run on table service only with restrictions on how many people can order drinks at the till and you cannot drink at the counter. Pubs are also taking contact details in case there is an outbreak of Corona Virus amongst pubgoers. Cinemas are limiting the number of people that they let in to see a film and insisting on people sitting away from people that they don't know.
21. Fast food chains do not seem to have caught up although some continue to offer either a take-away or a delivery service, Many places have put in place what they are calling "self distancing measures” where you must stand a certain distance away from each other. Most take aways that you can eat at (where tables are provided) are still not offering the ability to sit at a table or use the loo so you will need to eat outside of the place that you buy your food. If you are desperate to use the toilet, most shopping centres are back open.22. You can purchase most things online. This reduces your chances of being exposed to the Corona Virus. Be aware that Royal Mail and parcel companies are not asking for signatures and that they are leaving parcels on the landings.
23. Gatherings of more than 30 people outdoors, and more than 2 households indoors, have now been banned by law. The gestapo can issue fines and disperse larger groups. The vast majority of public events have been cancelled indoors but some outdoor events, where the management can demonstrate that social distancing is possible and that it will be ensured, can now go ahead, sometimes with more than 30 people. Most big events have been postponed until 2021.
24. The Government is now allowing foreign travel to certain countries but some countries may insist on you going through a period of quarantine, when you arrive, and the UK Government is insisting on you quarantining yourself when you return from certain countries. You can find more information on the www.gov.uk website (the Foreign Office section).
25. Please do share this advice but communicate that it is provided without liability being accepted - this means that if you use it, or anybody else uses it, you agree not to take any kind of legal action against us.
Other than some extra additional pointers, this advice was adapted from the NHS Website available from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19 (opens a new window) and following the latest government annoucements on changes in the law covered in the mainstream media (BBC, Sky News, ITV (ITN) News etc).