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Coping with coronavirus
The spread of coronavirus has caused a global pandemic that has confined many of us to our homes, and turned all of our lives upside down. Sometimes it can be hard to know how to cope, and from speaking to lots of you, we get that lockdown and the health crisis impacts you all differently.
We’ve tried to cover all bases, with practical tips on managing your money, work and furlough, study, and managing your mental health during lockdown.
We’ve also included plenty of fun ways to escape, unwind and spread good vibes when things get too much.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, as it’s sometimes also called, is a virus that can affect your lungs and airways. Sometimes, you might hear SARS said in reference to coronavirus. SARS stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome and is used to describe any virus that affects our lungs and how we breathe.
Because it’s a virus, coronavirus can only survive inside the living cells of an organism like an animal, a plant or us.
The virus is pretty new, so we’re learning things about it all the time, but we think it spreads through the droplets that people exhale, sneeze and cough – coughs and sneezes mean more droplets and a higher chance of infection, which is why masks and isolation are advised as protective measures.
How are you today?
Find out more
Dr Zoe answers YOUR coronavirus questions
What is coronavirus? What are the treatments? Why does it affect people differently? We asked ITV’s Dr Zoe Williams the main questions you wanted answering, to help clear up some of the confusion about COVID-19. Watch this interview to find out more about the illness, the risks and what the NHS are doing to fight the pandemic.
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Discussions
FAQs
What are the symptoms of Covid-19?
The virus is still fairly new, so symptoms are discovered all the time, but at the moment, Public Health England lists the symptoms as a high temperature or fever, a persistent cough, shortness of breath and/or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. You can read more about coronavirus here.
Can I go out if I’m self-isolating?
If you think you have coronavirus and are showing the symptoms, make sure you call 111. It’s also really important to self-isolate to protect others from getting the virus and to take care of yourself.
If you’re self-isolating, you are not allowed to leave your home for any reason. If you can, get food and medicine delivered to you and order whatever you can online.
You should even do exercise at home – you can use your garden; and definitely don’t invite anybody round.
What is shielding?
‘Shielding’ is the practice of protecting yourself from getting coronavirus. Typically, it only applies to people that have received a letter from the NHS or their GP telling them to shield. This can be for a number of reasons, but usually means the person is clinically deemed to be an extremely vulnerable person. This might be because of their age or because of an underlying condition or disease that might complicate their recovery if they were to get coronavirus.
‘Shielding’ means they shouldn’t leave their house or attend gatherings. Where possible they should get deliveries of supplies. Some supermarkets have set up systems to support vulnerable people.
What are my tenancy rights?
It’s natural to be worried about money and your rights in privately rented or social accommodation. The government has brought in some measures to protect you if you’re not able to pay your rent, or your landlord is trying to force you out. This includes an eviction ban. You can read more about your tenancy rights here.
Our partners
We worked in partnership with Facebook, TOMs Shoes and Schuh on this project and would like to thank them for their collaboration and support.
