We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:

• Stay at home as much as possible
• Work from home if you can
• Limit contact with other people
• Keep your distance if you go out (two metres apart where possible)
• Wash your hands regularly

Don't leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

The government has updated its FAQs on what you can and cannot do during the coronavirus outbreak and published staying safe outside your home for guidance on what the new rules will mean in England from Monday 1 June.

• Enjoy summer safely.
• Parks are open

Face coverings

From 24 July 2020, in England, you must wear a face covering by law in the following settings:

• Public transport
• Indoor transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)
• Shops and supermarkets (places which are open to the public and that wholly or mainly offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
• Indoor shopping centres
• Banks, building societies, and post offices (including credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses)

From 8 August face coverings will be mandatory in more venues, including museums, galleries, cinemas and public libraries.

You're expected to wear a face covering immediately before entering any of these settings, and must keep it on until you leave. For more information, including a full list of venues where a face covering must be worn, please read the Government guidance. It's important to dispose of face coverings safely.

• Face coverings in shops poster
• Face covering advice - general

Coronavirus (Covid-19) is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways, caused by a virus called coronavirus.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19) are:

• A high temperature - this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you don't need to measure your temperature)
• A new continuous dry cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• A loss or changed sense of smell or taste (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (Covid-19) will be a mild illness.

You can find out more about coronavirus, social distancing, how to self-isolate, helping others safely and more on the NHS website and the Gov.uk coronavirus information pages.

Special advice is available for:

• Shielding people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
• People classed as higher risk, and those classed as most at risk

• Don't leave your home if you have coronavirus symptoms, and apply for a free test as soon as possible.
• You and anyone you live with must stay at home (self-isolate) until you get your result.
• Anyone in your support bubble must also self-isolate until you get your result.
• To protect others, don't go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.

Craven Arms outbreak testing

Testing will be available to residents of Craven Arms on Friday 31 July – no appointment needed.

• Mobile testing unit: 10:30am – 3:30pm drive through (Highways depot)
• Halo Community Centre: 10:30am – 1:30pm walk in/up testing site for residents

Please take a look at our poster for more information.

The test site at Craven Arms Business Park was set up on Saturday 25 July, and will be open for the next two weeks every day from 10:30am to 3:30pm. Testing is by appointment only, and Craven Arms residents are being asked to book an appointment via NHS Test and Trace online or by ringing 119.

General advice

You need to apply for a test straight away and no later than five days from when your symptoms started – testing isn't possible after six days.

You can arrange a free test online. You'll be asked how you want to get the test (at a drive-through or walk-through test site or by ordering a home test kit) and for details such as your name, mobile phone number and address. The test usually involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of your throat, using a long cotton bud.

You can do the swab yourself (if you're aged 12 or over) or someone can do it for you. Children aged 11 or under can't do the swab themselves. Their parent or guardian will have to swab test them.

If you have a test at a test site, it can take up to 48 hours to get your results. It may take up to 72 hours for a home test. When your result is available, you'll get a text or email that explains what your result is and what you need to do next.

If you get a positive test, NHS Test and Trace will contact you by text message, email or phone and ask you to share information about any close contacts you had just before or after you developed symptoms.

Anyone of any age who has symptoms can have a test. If you're applying for a test for someone else, and the person is aged 13 or over, check they're happy for you to get a test for them. A young person can apply for a test for themselves from the age of 16.

If you're an essential worker you get priority. Go to Gov.UK to find out more.

If your symptoms get worse, go to: NHS 111 online coronavirus service

If you're told by NHS Test and Trace you've been exposed to an infected person, you must self-isolate for 14 days.

Dedicated coronavirus helpline

You can contact the helpline on 0345 678 9028 for any coronavirus-related issues and enquiries, between 8am to 6pm weekdays, and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Each caller will be asked to explain their need and, if required, this information will be passed onto the appropriate support.

Please note: the helpline is for council services only - for any health-related queries and issues please use the NHS 111 online service.

Community reassurance teams are in place to help those who are vulnerable and in need of help. The team can be contacted through the coronavirus helpline above

Helpful information has been gathered which includes: mental health and wellbeing, families, and a map to look to find community social networks in your area. Please click on the boxes towards the end of this page.

Please read the government's FAQs on what you can and cannot do during the Coronavirus outbreak. This includes information about gatherings, public spaces and activities, including: how many people you can meet indoors and outdoors, travel, attending activities or support groups and businesses which are reopening.

The Gov.UK and NHS coronavirus pages contain full guidance documents and information. Here's a selection:  

• Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
• Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
• Staying alert and safe (social distancing)
• Working safely during coronavirus
• Coronavirus: How to help safely
• Staying safe outside your home
• Covid-19 safer travel guidance for passengers
• People at higher risk from coronavirus

As the lockdown restrictions are eased and businesses start to reopen, we are taking steps to ensure that visitors safely and easily visit and navigate the county’s market towns. Read about the plans to support social distancing in our towns.

Easy-read

• Find out how to help others safely.
• Find out how to get tested.

Enjoy summer safely poster:

• Bulgarian
• Polish
• Romanian

Open parks poster:

• Bulgarian
• Polish
• Romanian

British Sign Language

With the current coronavirus situation changing daily, this page is regularly updated to provide the latest relevant local information, and links to official guidance and support.

We want to make sure that this local information is relevant to you, so if you have a question that isn't covered by the following pages please let us know. For any urgent service requests, please contact the helpline on 0345 678 9028.