You can make a difference to the COVID-19 rates by keeping to the rules!
COVID-19 is serious – it is real, it does make people poorly, it can make you seriously ill for a long time, it can kill you!
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council want everyone to play their part and protect themselves, their loved ones and to protect Stockton-on-Tees.
By following the national restrictions, we can prevent the spread of this virus.
- HANDS – Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds.
- FACE – Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
- SPACE – Stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors). This includes informal situations like going for a walk or collecting children from school, we need to keep our social distance to protect everyone.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
If you have these symptoms – no matter how mild – book a test online or by calling 119, it is important that you do this as soon as possible.
If you have symptoms, stay at home and book a test.
Self-isolate if you’re told to
If you are informed you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 you can expect a call from NHS Test and Trace please co-operate with them and give them accurate information.
And if they tell you to self-isolate then you must stay at home for 14 days from the day you were last in contact with the infected person. This applies even if you have had a negative test.
It’s important that you and everyone in your household stays at home to self-isolate and that you don’t leave the house even to pop out to the shops or for exercise.
You can find out about testing and self-isolating at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.
Here is a range of advice to prepare for self-isolation.
Support for Residents
There is a range of financial support available for residents who are struggling financially as a result of COVID-19, including Council Tax support and benefits maximisation, full details here.
Advice on the financial support available if you cannot work due to COVID-19 or self-isolating including Test and Trace Support payments, furlough, mortgage holidays can be found at www.gov.uk/coronavirus/worker-support.
Remember, the COVID Community Support Team can support vulnerable and elderly residents with food deliveries, shopping, picking up prescriptions or making sure people who are self-isolating and may be worried or lonely get the support they need.
The team can be contacted on 01642 733906 between 9am and 12noon, Monday to Friday or by emailing covidcommunitysupport@catalyststockton.org
Business Support
There is a range of support available for businesses including business grants, full details here.
It is also important for businesses to register positive cases with the NHS self-isolation hub to generate an 8-digit reference number that staff and visitors asked to self-isolate will need to apply for a Test and Trace support payment.