What you need to know

Coronavirus (COVID-19): What you need to do

Protect yourself and others from coronavirus.

To help protect yourself and others from coronavirus, you must:

• Keep washing your hands regularly.
• Wear a face covering in enclosed spaces.
• Stay at least 2 metres apart – or 1 metre with a face covering or other precautions
• For the latest guidance, please visit the government website.
• Self isolate and get a test if you develop symptoms.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

• 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)
• a 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 normal

Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms.

Read more on the NHS website.

Recovering from COVID-19

How long it takes to recover from COVID-19 is different for everybody. Many people feel better in a few days or weeks and most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks. But for some people, symptoms can last longer. This is known as Post-COVID syndrome or long COVID and can affect your physical and mental health.

There is support available and lots of things you can do to help yourself.

Manage the effects

Get support and guidance on how to manage the effects on your mind and body on the Your COVID Recovery website

Manage your mental health

If you need support with your mental health, you can refer yourself to NHS psychological therapies (IAPT) services.

Find an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT)

Talk to your GP

If you are worried about your symptoms, speak to your GP.

After 12 weeks

If the effects continue to affect you after 12 weeks and are not helped by the resources on the Your COVID Recovery website, you should discuss options with your GP.

Post-COVID Syndrome assessment clinic

Post Covid Syndrome Assessment clinics have been launched across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to help patients who are experiencing multiple new and ongoing symptoms at 12 weeks or more after a COVID infection.

You should speak to your GP who will refer you to the clinic if it is suitable for your needs. The clinic will fully assess your physical, mental and cognitive needs, usually by telephone, and will hold a discussion with a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians to plan your care.

The plan may include referrals to community and mental health services to help treat your symptoms.

Speak to your GP to see if this is suitable for you.