Cover your face - wear a face covering in enclosed space. Across all tiers in England, everyone must wear a face covering in most indoor public settings. The government guidance explains more. This information relates to the use of face coverings in public spaces where social distancing isn't always possible. It's also important to follow all the other government advice on coronavirus (Covid-19), including meeting with others safely.

Find out more about what you can and can’t do during the coronavirus outbreak in the government guidance.

The main symptoms 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 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 change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you can't smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.

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.

Specific advice is available on:

• Shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid-19
• People classed as higher risk, and those classed as most at risk

If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:

• Get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible
• Stay at home and don't have visitors until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.

Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get your result. Find out more about how long to self-isolate. 

Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• You're worried about your symptoms
• You're not sure what to do

Call 111 if you can't get help online. Don't go to places like a GP surgery, hospital or pharmacy.

People across Shropshire who have symptoms such as headaches, fatigue or sore throats are urged to book a Covid-19 test. We've increased our testing capacity as the county looks to strengthen its response to the sharp rise in cases.

Currently, anyone in Shropshire who has one of the main symptoms – a high temperature, new cough or loss of taste or smell – must self-isolate immediately and book a test.

But with more people testing positive who may who have other symptoms, we're now encouraging anyone to consider getting tested as a precaution if they have any of the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Aches and pains
• Feeling very tired for no good reason
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sometimes ‘tummy ache’ in children.

There are a number of testing sites across Shropshire which allow you to book a test online, or you can call 119. You can use the 'My council has asked me to book a test” option if you have the other symptoms.

Frontline and key workers living in Shropshire who can't work from home are now able to take a lateral flow test (LFT). We know that up to one in three people who have coronavirus never show any symptoms, but that doesn't mean they're not infectious. Lateral flow tests are one of the tools being used to help us to detect and fight Covid-19.

• The test is for people who don't have symptoms (are asymptomatic), and testing is recommended up to two times a week or once every four days
• The test involves taking a swab from the nose or throat, and results are known within 20-30 minutes of taking the test

Testing is available at the following sites, and must be booked in advance.

• Lantern, Meadow Farm Drive, Harlescott, Shrewsbury, SY1 4NG - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday – 9:15am–4pm
• Craven Arms Community Centre, Newington Way, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 9PS - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday – 9:15am–4pm

A lateral flow test is for people without symptoms. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, book a test as soon as possible by calling 119 or online. Stay at home until you get your test result. Only leave your home to have a test. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get your result.

The NHS Covid-19 app, available to download for free in England and Wales, is the fastest way to see if you're at risk from coronavirus. The faster you know, the quicker you can alert and protect your loved ones and community.

The app has a number of tools to protect you, including contact tracing, local area alerts and venue check-in. Find out more and how to download the app by visiting the NHS website.

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.

The government announced a new lockdown for England on 4 January 2021. Find out more about what you can and can't do and read our press release.

​Information on current infection rates can be found on our 'Covid rates in Shropshire' page.

The NHS will get in touch when it’s your turn to be vaccinated. The vaccine priority poster explains the first phase priority groups for the Covid-19 vaccination. The BBC has produced an 'explainer': 'When will you be eligible for the Covid vaccine?' The Covid-19 vaccination guide for adults leaflet explains who is eligible and who needs to have the vaccine to protect them from coronavirus.

Vaccination: Frequently asked questions

Information in other languages and formats

British Asian doctors explain the importance of vaccines for fighting coronavirus in five  languages: Sylheti, Gujarati, Tamil, Urdu and Punjabi on the BBC website.  

Mencap's easy-read leaflet gives information about the coronavirus vaccine.

A short film from the NHS has been made for people with a learning disability and/or who are autistic. It gives information about vaccines and describes what a vaccine is, how vaccines are made, why you should get a vaccine, whether a vaccine will make you ill and how to decide whether to have a vaccine.

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
• Coronavirus: social distancing
• Covid-19 safer travel guidance for passengers
• People at higher risk from coronavirus
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice on accessing green spaces safely
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for people in England with animals

We're 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.

You can find a range of posters to assist with coronavirus measures, as well as a toolkit for local community groups, in our useful resources section.

Please use the Covid-19 business feedback form to let us know about the Covid-secure measures in place in local businesses.

New data suggests that 'long Covid' affects around 10% of 18 to 49-year-olds who become unwell with Covid-19. The symptoms, including fatigue, protracted loss of taste or smell, respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms and mental health problems, are described in a short subtitled film as part of the wider national Hands, Face, Space campaign. 

Find out more about the film.

Guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection in Arabic, Bengali, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi and Urdu. Please see our resources in alternative formats and languages page too.

Winter is here. Information to help you stay well can be found elsewhere on this website.

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.