We will also be addressing some of the misinformation you might have heard about coronavirus. This includes the vaccination, the importance of prevention measures and general questions about the pandemic itself.
We'll update this page with more information and welcome your suggestions and feedback.
Where to go for help
Lots of organisations are offering help and support during the coronavirus pandemic.
Community Response Unit
We're co-ordinating the Community Response Unit. This offers help with shopping, prescriptions and more.
National restrictions
Coronavirus remains a serious threat across the country. Find out what you can and cannot do under the current coronavirus restrictions.
Coronavirus symptoms
The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you have any of these symptoms. Get a test to check if you have coronavirus and stay at home until you get your result.
When to get a test
You can only get a free NHS test if at least one of the following applies:
- you are showing symptoms, for example have a high temperature, have a new, continuous cough or you've lost your sense of smell or taste or it's changed
- you've been asked to by a local council
- you're taking part in a government pilot project
You can also get a test for someone you live with if they have symptoms.
Get a free test
You can order a free test to check if you have coronavirus.
Community testing
We know that many people can have coronavirus without showing any symptoms.
Our community testing programme (also known as mass testing) is helping to identify people who have high levels of the virus but are otherwise unaware that they are infectious. This will help to slow the spread of the virus.
Find out more about community testing, and your nearest test centre.
Self-isolation
Self-isolation is when you do not leave your home because you have or might have coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps stop the virus spreading to other people.
It's a legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive or are told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. You could be fined if you do not self-isolate.
You can find out more about staying at home (self-isolation), what it means and what you should do.
COVID-19 vaccination
If you're eligible for your COVID-19 vaccination then please either wait to be contacted or book your coronavirus vaccination. Please do not phone your GP.
If you're a resident of Derbyshire and struggling to get to your COVID-19 vaccine appointment or if you are in financial hardship and unable to meet the costs of travel to and from your COVID-19 vaccination appointment the Community Response Unit can help you to find suitable transport options.