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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

We would like to reassure our clients and their families that we are keeping fully up-to-date with the latest Government, NHS and Health Protection Scotland Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance and protocols. 

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Hygiene 

The general hygiene principles everyone should be following include:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

  • Always wash your hands when you get home or into work

  • Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin, or sneeze into the bend of your elbow, then wash your hands​

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

  • Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces

 

How is COVID-19 spread?

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There are two routes by which COVID-19 can be spread:

Directly: from close contact with an infected person (within 2 metres) where respiratory secretions can enter the eyes, mouth, nose or airways. This risk increases the longer someone has close contact with an infected person who has symptoms.

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Indirectly: by touching a surface, object or the hand of an infected person that has been contaminated with respiratory secretions and then touching own mouth, nose, or eyes.

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How long can the virus survive on environmental surfaces?

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Under most circumstances, even without cleaning or disinfection, the amount of infectious virus on any contaminated surfaces is likely to have decreased significantly by 72 hours.

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We know that similar viruses, are transferred to and by people’s hands and therefore frequent hand hygiene and regular decontamination of frequently touched environmental and equipment surfaces will help to reduce the risk of infection transmission.

 

How can I protect myself / my family?

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The best way to protect yourself is the same as you would against any respiratory infection.

Practise good hygiene by:

  • making sure to clean your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand gel

  • cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or a flexed elbow

  • avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms

  • make sure you stay home if you are sick

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The following measures are recommended to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to protect people at higher risk of severe illness:

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Household isolation (Stay at home) measures will reduce the community spread of COVID-19.  This means that anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 and anyone else living in the same household should follow “stay at home” advice on NHS Inform. 

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Social distancing measures should be used by everyone, including children. The aim of social distancing measures is to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Stringent social distancing is strongly advised for people who are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Note that these groups are broader than those for whom shielding advice (below) is recommended. 

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Shielding is a measure to protect people, including children, who are at very high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 because of certain underlying health conditions. The aim of shielding is to minimise interaction between these individuals and others to protect them from coming into contact with COVID-19. People with these serious underlying health conditions are strongly advised to rigorously follow shielding measures in order to keep themselves safe. 

 

Where can I find further information on COVID-19 and how to reduce the risk of infection? 

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Additional information can be found on the COVID-19 pages of the NHS Inform website. People who want more general information on COVID-19 but do not have symptoms can also phone the free helpline on 0800 028 2816 (NHS 24).

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