With the NHS under increasing pressure, many people are turning to pharmacies for advice and guidance about Covid-19 and how to stay safe.  Your pharmacist can also provide help and support for other medical conditions which you may be worried about accessing treatment for during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Staying safe from Covid-19 is about following the government guidelines and taking other sensible precautions against Covid.  Here are some of the ways you can help protect yourself and others:-

Only go outside your household for one of the defined reasons:-  to go shopping or buy medical products, to exercise or to access medical care.

If you show symptoms of Coronavirus then you must self-isolate for 7 days.

Those you live with, must remain in lockdown for 14 days as this is how long it can take for signs of Covid-19 to manifest.  These timescales should be implemented from the last day of a raised temperature or fever rather than the first day that symptoms appear.  A cough is not relevant when calculating the infection window.

If you need non-urgent medical advice then call NHS 111 or access online information from the NHS website.

If you have an urgent medical problem then you should seek advice first from your GP, don’t just turn up to a doctor’s surgery or hospital unless it is an absolute emergency.

When you are outside, observe social distancing and remain two metres away from other people.  Clean your hands frequently either with an anti-bacterial gel or by washing them thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Pharmacies are in the front line of the fight against Covid supplying healthcare information about Covid precautions as well as support and advice for other medical matters.  Your pharmacist can also assist in the supply of products which can help you stay safe and follow the government’s Covid precautions.  Visit our website https://www.pharmacyplanet.com/ to find out more.