Symptoms of COVID -19 and what to do
Isolating at home
Please see the attached guidance for patients with suspected coronavirus who have not been admitted to hospital and will be isolating at home.
Covid-19 Vaccination
Treatments for Covid-19
The NHS offers treatment to people with COVID-19 who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill.
Who can have COVID-19 treatment
You’re eligible for a COVID-19 treatment assessment, without being admitted to hospital, if all the following apply:
- you’re at highest risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
- you’re aged 12 or over
- you have symptoms of COVID-19
- you have tested positive for COVID-19
Some treatments are also available through a national study to a wider group of people, including those aged 50 years old and over (or 18 years old and over with a health condition that puts them at increased risk of COVID-19).
Visit the Panoramic trial website if you’re interested in taking part.
People at the highest risk
You may be at highest risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 if you have:
- Down’s syndrome, or another chromosomal condition that affects your immune system
- certain types of cancer, or had treatment for certain types of cancer
- sickle cell disease
- certain conditions affecting your blood, including some types of blood cancer
- chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or 5, including people on dialysis
- severe liver disease
- had an organ transplant
- certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease
- HIV or AIDS and have a weakened immune system
- a condition affecting your immune system
- a condition affecting the brain or nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, motor neurone disease, myasthenia gravis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or certain types of dementia
- certain lung conditions or treatments for lung conditions
This list is a summary and does not cover everything.
If you’re unsure if you are eligible, speak to your doctor or hospital specialist who can advise you.
Treatments for COVID-19
The treatments available for people at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 are:
- nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid)
- sotrovimab (Xevudy)
- molnupiravir (Lagevrio)
- remdesivir (Veklury)
Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, molnupiravir and remdesivir are antiviral medicines.
When being assessed for treatment, a doctor will advise which treatment is most suitable for you.
Some treatments come as capsules or tablets that you swallow. Others are given to you through a drip in your arm (infusion), usually in a hospital or local health centre.
These treatments can help some people manage their COVID-19 symptoms and reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill.
Information:
If you need to go into hospital for COVID-19, you may get other treatments.
How to get COVID-19 treatment
Local NHS organisations are responsible for arranging COVID-19 treatments. The way you get treatment will depend on where you live.
Your local integrated care board (ICB) can give you more information.
If you think you’re in the highest risk group and need to access COVID-19 treatment, follow these steps to be considered for a referral.
1. Keep rapid lateral flow tests at home
If you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatment, you should keep rapid lateral flow tests at home.
You may be able to pick up free rapid lateral flow test kits from your local pharmacy if you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatment.
Your local integrated care board (ICB) may be able to give you more information on where you can collect free tests.
Find your local integrated care board (ICB)
The pharmacy may ask you questions about your medical history to confirm you’re eligible for free tests. If you have a copy of a letter or email sent to you by the NHS that says you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatment, take this with you. A letter or email is not essential, but it will help the pharmacy to confirm you’re eligible for free tests more easily.
Someone else can collect free tests on your behalf, for example, a friend, relative or carer. If you do not have a friend, relative or carer who can collect your tests for you, you may be able to book a volunteer responder by calling 0808 196 3646.
Anyone collecting free tests on your behalf needs to give the pharmacy your details, including your:
- full name
- address
- date of birth
- NHS number (if available)
- medical condition(s) to confirm your eligibility
They should also bring any copies of letters or emails that have been sent to you by the NHS about COVID-19 treatments.
2. Take a rapid lateral flow test if you get symptoms
If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, take a rapid lateral flow test as soon as possible, even if your symptoms are mild. Only take a test if you have symptoms.
You can also use tests you’ve paid for, for example, a test you’ve bought from a supermarket or pharmacy.
3. If your test is positive, call your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialist
Call your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialist as soon as possible if your test result is positive.
They’ll decide if you need a referral for an assessment for COVID-19 treatment or may carry out the assessment themselves.
As part of the assessment, you may be asked what other medicines you take or receive, including any vitamins and minerals, so it’s important to have a list of these ready.
If you’re eligible for treatment, it’s important to start the treatment as soon as you can. Treatments for COVID-19 need to be given quickly after your symptoms start to be effective.
If you’re prescribed capsules or tablets, the medicine can be collected on your behalf by someone else, such as a friend or relative. You’ll be advised where the medicine can be collected from. Alternatively, the NHS may be able to arrange for the medicine to be delivered to you.
If the treatment needs to be given as a drip in your arm (infusion), you’ll usually get it at your local hospital or in a local health centre.
You’ll get instructions on where to get the treatment and how to get there and back safely.
4. If your test is negative, do a total of 3 tests over 3 days
If your test result is negative, but you still have symptoms of COVID-19, you need to do a total of 3 rapid lateral flow tests over 3 days.
For example, if you did your first test today, you should do a 2nd test tomorrow and a 3rd test the day after.
If any test result is positive, you can stop testing and call your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialist as soon as possible.
More information on treatments for COVID-19
- Find your ICB (local integrated care board) to access COVID treatments in your area
- GOV.UK: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid) patient information leaflet
- GOV.UK: sotrovimab (Xevudy) patient information leaflet
- GOV.UK: molnupiravir (Lagevrio) patient information leaflet
If you need this information in easy read format, you can read it on the NHS England website.
Long-term effects of COVID-19 (long COVID)
What is long COVID?
Most people with COVID-19 feel better within a few days or weeks of their first symptoms and make a full recovery within 12 weeks.
For some people, symptoms can last longer. This is called long COVID or post COVID-19 syndrome. Long COVID is a new condition which is still being studied.
Information:
You can sign up to take part in long COVID research on the Be Part of Research website
Symptoms of long COVID
The most common symptoms of long COVID are:
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- feeling short of breath
- problems with your memory and concentration (“brain fog”)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- joint pain and muscle aches
However, there are lots of symptoms you can have after a COVID-19 infection, including:
- loss of smell
- chest pain or tightness
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- pins and needles
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
- rashes
Non-urgent advice:Contact a GP if:
- you’ve had symptoms of COVID-19 for 4 weeks or more and are worried
What happens at your GP appointment
If you see a GP about ongoing COVID-19 symptoms, they may suggest tests to find out more about your symptoms and rule out other conditions that could cause them.
These tests might include:
- blood tests
- checking your blood pressure and heart rate
- a chest X-ray
- measuring your oxygen levels
The GP will talk to you about the care and support you might need.
You may be given advice about how to manage and monitor your symptoms at home.
Getting a referral to a long COVID service
If the symptoms are having an impact on your life, you may be referred to an NHS long COVID service for children, young people or adults.
Long COVID services can offer:
- further tests to help diagnose or monitor your symptoms
- assessments for your physical and mental health
- treatment for or help managing long COVID symptoms
- referral to post-COVID rehabilitation for further support, if needed
How long it takes to recover from COVID-19
How long it takes to recover from COVID-19 is different for everybody.
Some symptoms can improve quickly and others last longer.
The chances of having long-term symptoms does not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get COVID-19.
People who had mild symptoms at first can still have long-term problems.
Find out which healthcare organisations provide long COVID services in your area.
How to help symptoms of long COVID yourself
A lot is still being learned about long COVID. But there are things you can do to help with the symptoms.
Tiredness and fatigue
If long COVID is causing tiredness or fatigue, there may be things you can do to help, such as avoiding drinking too much alcohol and sticking to the same sleep times every day.
Keeping a diary of your day, how you slept, and your tiredness and fatigue symptoms may help you to understand if anything is making it worse. These things are sometimes called triggers.
Read more about tiredness and fatigue, including things you can do to help.
Eating a balanced diet
It’s important to eat well if you have long COVID because this helps you get better and stronger quicker.
Read more about eating a balanced diet.
Exercise
The amount of exercise you can do will depend on how you are feeling.
It’s a good idea to speak to a GP for advice before starting a new exercise programme if your symptoms are severe or you have not exercised in a while.
It can help to start small and listen to your body. For example:
- stand up every hour
- try some breathing exercises
- move your joints
- set realistic exercise targets
- do not do too much, and stop if you feel unwell
- drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)
Try not to stay in bed or sit for too long. Get up regularly and go for short walks if you can. If this is something you are struggling with, speak to your GP or long COVID clinic.
Depression, anxiety and mental health
If you have mental health symptoms, such as anxiety or depression, find out how you can access NHS mental health support services.
You can also read more about 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing.
Breathlessness
Long COVID can cause breathlessness and a change in your usual breathing pattern. Breathing exercises can help to get your normal breathing pattern back.
This can include:
- breathing in through your nose gently and at a steady rate
- trying to avoid shallow breathing and breathe in gradually and more deeply
You may need to see a physiotherapist for help with breathlessness. This may be available through a long COVID service.
Difficulty concentrating (brain fog)
Some people with long COVID have difficulty concentrating, managing lots of information at once, or remembering things. This is sometimes called brain fog.
You should discuss this symptom with your GP if it is a constant or severe problem or getting worse.
Heart palpitations or dizziness
Your heartbeat may feel different to normal when you’re recovering from an illness, but this should settle as you recover.
To help with palpitations or dizziness, you can:
- move slowly when you’re sitting or standing
- do some gentle activity – you may find it easier to exercise in a lying position
Information:
If you’re worried about heart palpitations or dizziness, speak to a GP or NHS 111.
Returning to work or carer roles
If long covid is having an impact on your usual ability to manage your work or caring role, discuss this with your doctor and employer.
Read more about support and benefits for carers.
More information
Covid-19 Help
If you are self isolating and require assistance with shopping, collection of prescriptions or just a chat, please see details here of some local groups who can assist you during this time.
Further details can be found on Age UK Cambridge and Peterborough website https://www.ageuk.org.uk/cambridgeshireandpeterborough/about-us/news/articles/20182/covid-19—community-support-resource/
Brampton Community Support Network are able to offer assistance to residents of Brampton and Hinchingbrooke:
The Hunts Post has also collated a list of helplines for people in Huntingdonshire who may be isolated and need assistance: