Stay alert and help control the virus

To protect yourself and others, when you leave home you must:

• wash hands - keep washing your hands regularly
• cover face - wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in enclosed spaces
• make space - stay at least a metre away from people not in your household

If you are feeling unwell, get a test and do not leave home for at least 10 days.

Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

FAQs about what you can and can't do are available here.

If you live in a Covid hotspot or have any symptoms - Get tested now!

This page has been designed to provide up-to-date information, guidance and advice with regards to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Please click here for the Government advice and support.

Please click here for NHS medical advice.

If you need medical help, please use the 111 online coronavirus service.

Please click here for Stoke-on-Trent City Council coronavirus information and support.

If you want to volunteer to help others in Stoke-on-Trent through these challenging times, sign up here.

For advice on priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination click here.

If you want to nominate an individual or organisation for an Unsung Heroes award, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions about Vaccines

How do the Covid-19 vaccines work?

• Vaccines work by tricking your body into thinking it has to fight the virus. It trains you for this fight by making antibodies and stimulating T-cells; then you are ready if you do come across the real thing.
• However, like any training, getting up to ‘match fitness’ takes time. Your body’s response, the immune response, is only fully trained up around 2 or 3 weeks after you have each of your 2 jabs. If you are older it’s better to allow at least 3 weeks. You can still get COVID in this time.
• Even better and longer lasting protection then comes from the second dose so it is really important that everyone gets the second jab.

Why are we beginning to vaccinate the next two priority groups when the first two have not all received their vaccines?

• Priority remains to vaccinate top 2 cohorts first, while over 4 million people have received their first vaccine dose in the UK.
• Vaccinating the first 2 groups will remain the priority, but vaccination sites which have enough supply and capacity for vaccinating further people are allowed to offer vaccinations to the next 2 cohorts – those aged 70 and over and clinically extremely vulnerable people.
• This will allow areas that have already vaccinated the majority of care home residents, frontline health and care staff and people aged 80 and over to keep up the momentum and start vaccinating further at-risk people, helping the NHS to reach the Prime Minister’s commitment of offering vaccinations to the first 4 priority groups by the middle of February.

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