You should also try to remain at home and avoid contact with others for three days following the day the test was taken
The NHS has advice for anyone who tests positive for Covid(Image: Getty)
The NHS has advised people to follow a 10-day guideline if they contract Covid. Although there has been a marginal decline in Covid cases recently, the virus continues to circulate widely throughout the UK.
The latest statistics from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), gathered during the week commencing 27 October, show a reduction in hospital Covid cases. The weekly average positivity rate for COVID-19 in hospital environments stood at 5.7 per cent, down from 7.7 per cent the week before.
Hospital admissions linked to COVID-19 dropped to 2.22 per 100,000 from 2.51 per 100,000 in the previous week. The UKHSA observed that individuals aged 85 and above experienced the “highest” hospital admission rate, which declined to 22.71 per 100,000 from 28.59 per 100,000 the week prior.
The NHS has issued a range of guidance for those who test positive. On its website, the NHS explains that “most” individuals do not require a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test when experiencing symptoms.
Nevertheless, if you opt to take a test and receive a positive result, you should follow its 10-day protocol. The guidance states: “Avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from infections, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day you took your test.”
Additional recommendations include:
- Try to remain at home and avoid contact with others for three days following the day the test was taken if you or your child are under 18 years old – children and young people tend to be infectious for less time than adults
- Try to remain at home and avoid contact with others for five days following the day you took your test if you are 18 years old or over
Symptoms
According to the NHS, COVID-19 symptoms can include:
- A high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature 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 three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- An aching body
- A headache
- A sore throat
- A blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick
“The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu,” the NHS says. “Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover.
“For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.” To help ease symptoms, the NHS says you should:
- Ensure you get plenty of rest
- Stay hydrated by drinking ample water to avoid dehydration (your urine should be light yellow or clear)
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you’re feeling uncomfortable
- If you have a cough, try having a teaspoon of honey – but remember not to give honey to babies under 12 months
- To help with breathlessness, consider turning down the heating or opening a window
- Breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, with your lips together as if you’re gently blowing out a candle
- Sitting upright in a chair can also assist with breathlessness
- Relax your shoulders to avoid hunching, which can exacerbate breathlessness
- Lean forward slightly – support yourself by placing your hands on your knees or on something stable like a chair to alleviate breathlessness
- Avoid lying on your back if you have a cough – instead, lie on your side or sit upright
- Don’t use a fan to cool your room as it may spread the virus
- Try not to panic if you’re feeling breathless – this can make it worse
For more information, visit the NHS website here.