Managing coronavirus symptoms
I’m showing symptoms of coronavirus – what should I do?
You
should not leave your home if you have coronavirus symptoms (this is called self-isolation).
Immediate online advice is available via the NHS 111 online coronavirus
service. To protect others, do not go to places like
a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home for seven days from the start of
your symptoms, even if you think your symptoms are mild.
You should not leave your home for any reason – if
you need food or medicine order them by phone or online, ask someone else to
drop them off at your home. You should not have visitors in your home. You can
use your garden, if you have one. Any exercise should be taken at home.
You can find NHS advice to help people safely
self-isolate and reduce the risk of infection being spread here.
This BBC link explains what the symptoms of
coronavirus feel like.
You
should phone NHS 24 (111) if:
· breathlessness develops or
worsens, particularly if you’re in a high or extremely high risk group
· your symptoms worsen during
home isolation, especially if you’re in a high or extremely high risk group
· your symptoms have not improved
in 7 days
If
you have a medical emergency, phone 999 and tell them you have COVID-19
symptoms.
You
should contact your manager to update them of your situation and thereafter
keep in regular contact with them. You should follow the Government advice on how to safely
self-isolate. Your absence will be classified as sick leave and your
manager will update your HR Connect record to reflect this. You can refer to the University's Attendance Management Policy for further guidance.
After
7 days, if you do not have a high temperature, you do not need to continue to
self-isolate. If you still have a high
temperate, you should keep isolating until your temperature retains to
normal. You do not need to self-isolate
if you just have a cough after 7 days, as a cough can last for several weeks
after the infection has gone.
Do the people I live with need
to take any action if I have symptoms?
If
you live with other people and you are the first in the household to have
symptoms, then you must stay at home for 7 days, but all other household
members who remain well must stay at home for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when
the first person in the house became ill.
If
anyone else in the household develops symptoms within the 14 days, they need to
stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms began. They should do this
even if it takes them over the 14-day isolation period. Staying at home will greatly reduce the
overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the
community.
If you self-isolated for 14 days because you live
with someone who had symptoms, you can stop isolating on the fifteenth day
as long as you have no symptoms. If you become unwell within the 14 days
you should isolate for 7 days from the day your symptoms started. You
should do this even if it takes you over the 14-day isolation period.
I am a manager, what do I need to do if one of my team is unable
to work due to coronavirus?
You
should ensure that they are following the current medical advice. It
is important that you record their absence on HR Connect on the same day you
are informed of it. Instructions for recording absence are contained in the
last section of this document.
Do I require a fit note to cover an absence from work due to
coronavirus?
To
prevent the spread of infection, you do not need to obtain a fit note from your
GP to cover absence due to coronavirus. Should you require any medical help or
advice during a period of self-isolation you should contact your GP surgery or
NHS 24 (111).
What pay will I receive if I am absent from work due to having
coronavirus?
If
you contract the coronavirus, you are prevented from attending work because of
contact with an infectious disease and will be eligible for sick pay. If you
have any queries around your entitlement then please contact humanresources@napier.ac.uk.
Non-salaried staff – if I contract the coronavirus and am unable
to attend work, will I be paid for hours that I was due to work?
You
should contact humanresources@napier.ac.uk to discuss your situation.
When should I start working again?
You should only start
working again when you are fully recovered. You should always follow
medical advice.