Important message from Stewart Medical Centre
Following the Government’s announcement on Monday of a gradual easing of lockdown rules they have now published further guidance for the public on what these changes mean for day-to-day life.
Full guidance on the new measures can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing
In brief:
It is very important that people continue to stay home unless it is necessary to go out for specific reasons set out in law. These include:
•for work, where you cannot work from home
•going to shops that are permitted to be open – to get things like food and medicine, and to collect goods ordered online or on the phone
•to exercise or, from Wednesday 13 May, spend time outdoors for recreation
•any medical need, to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
If you do leave home, you should continue to wash your hands regularly, maintain social distancing, and ensuring you do not gather in groups of more than two (except with members of your own household). Specific guidance for staying safe outside your home can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home/staying-safe-outside-your-home
In addition, government advice to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces can be found here. Please note that wearing face mask is NOT a replacement for social distancing measures and frequent handwashing. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-advised-to-cover-faces-in-enclosed-spaces?utm_source=6c355955-120b-450a-a912-2c1e5262449c&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=daily
Those over 70, or with long term conditions who are at increased risk of complications from Coronavirus should continue to stay at home as much as possible and should make extra efforts to minimise contact with those outside their household. Those who have been identified at highest risk of coronavirus and who are currently shielding at home should continue to stay at home and avoid all contact with others outside their household until at least 30 June.
The self-isolation guidance for those who develop either a fever or a new cough have NOT changed, and patients should still self-isolate for 7 days, and household members without symptoms should isolate for 14 days, or for 7 days after their own symptoms develop, as before.
Please continue to stay at home as much as possible, wash your hands frequently and maintain social distancing at all times. We continue to ask patients NOT to visit the Practice in person, and encourage you to seek medical attention when you are unwell.