Top Tips For Keeping Fit During Isolation

Sunday Express Health Editor Lucy Johnston’s essential cut-out-and-keep guide to Covid-19

- Aseem Malhotra

What are the symptoms?

Latest scientific advice suggests you may have Covid-19 and need to selfisolate if you have a fever above 37.8 degrees and/or a persistent cough for more than four days. You do not need to have both. The cough is usually dry, but, not always. It normally, but not always, develops three or four days after a fever. You may or may not have other symptoms.

Latest findings this weekend suggest loss of taste or smell without other symptoms could be another early Covid-19 indicator.

A study in China showed 88 per cent of patients have a fever, 68 per cent a cough, 38 per cent are tired and 33 per cent produce phlegm. A smaller number had shortness of breath, muscle and joint pain, a sore throat, headache, chills, nausea, nasal congestion and/or diarrhoea.

What can happen if I get sick?

Most – 80 per cent – recover without needing special treatment. One in six becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people and those with underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems or those with diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness.

What do I do if I get the symptoms?

Stay at home for 14 days with your family. The time starts again if another family member starts with a cough or temperature. Stay at least three steps away from people. Do not go to a GP, pharmacy or hospital. Do not phone 111 unless you are unable to cope, in order to ease the burden on the NHS.

Why is it so infectious?