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What is coronavirus?

Up close, coronavirus looks round, with lots of little spikes.

Coronavirus is a new type of virus. A virus is a type of illness. Coronavirus can also be called COVID-19.

Feeling poorly.

If you get coronavirus, it might make you feel poorly.

Feeling better.

Most people who get coronavirus won't feel very ill, and they will feel better again soon.

Lungs and airways.
Coughing.

Coronavirus can make you feel poorly because it can affect your lungs and your airways. This means you might have a cough, and it might be hard to breathe.

Older person feeling poorly.

Some older people, or people who are already poorly, might be more ill than other people if they get coronavirus.

Scary words.
Feeling worried.
Staying calm.

People are using scary words to talk about coronavirus. It is OK to be worried. Try to stay calm.

Talking to somebody you trust.

You can talk to people you trust about coronavirus.

The rules

A book of rules.

There are rules everybody must follow to stop more people getting poorly because of coronavirus.

Staying at home.

A good way to stop you and other people catching coronavirus is to stay at home.

Up to six people can meet outdoors.
People must stay at least two metres apart.

Groups of people who don't live together can meet outdoors, but there must be no more than six people in the group. Everyone in the group who doesn't live together must stay at least two metres apart.

A group of people who live together going out.

People are allowed to be out with larger groups if they live with the people in the group.

A closed restaurants.

A lot of restaurants, and other places which do not need to be open, must stay closed.

How to stay safe

Washing hands.

Wash your hands lots of times every day. Use hot water and soap for 20 seconds.

Washing hands.
Eating.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Washing hands.
Touching your face.

Wash your hands before you touch your eyes, your nose or your mouth.

Using a tissue.
A rubbish bin.
Washing hands.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away as soon as you've used it. Then wash your hands.

The toilet.
Washing hands.

After you use the toilet, it's important to wash your hands.

Hand sanitiser.

If you are out and cannot use soap and water, you can use hand sanitiser to clean your hands. Hand sanitiser is also called hand gel.

No fist bumps.
No high-fives.
No hugs.

Do not give your friends or people who help you fist bumps, high-fives or hugs until coronavirus has gone away.

Waving.

You can be friendly in other ways. You can wave to people.

Talking.
A plan.

It is important that you can still get help and support at home. If you have people who help you or care for you, talk to them to make a plan.

A plan.
If you feel poorly.

You should also make a plan with the people who help and support you for what to do if you or they get poorly.

Asking for shopping.

Ask people you trust to help you get the things you need to stay at home and stay safe.

Leaving the shopping outside.

If people are bringing you things you need, ask them to leave them outside your door. This stops people getting too close and helps to stop you and them catching coronavirus.

A delivery driver.
Leaving deliveries outside.

If a delivery driver delivers anything to you, they should also leave things outside your door.

Things are a bit different

The hospital looks different.

If you need to go to hospital, it might be different. There might not be as many people as usual.

Going to a different place when you get to hospital.

You might need to go to different places to get help. This is OK. It is to keep everybody safe.

People at the hospital wearing a mask, gloves and an apron.

The people at the hospital might look different. They might need to wear things like masks, aprons and gloves. Don't worry. This is to keep you and them safe.

Somebody who has come to help you wearing gloves, a mask and an apron.

People who help you at home might also need to wear gloves, an apron or a mask. This is also to keep everybody safe.

Try not to worry.

The way people look might make you feel worried. Try not to worry. They are there to help you.

If you feel poorly

You.
Coughing.
A high temperature.
Staying at home.
A week (7 days).

If you start coughing a lot, or if you have a high temperature, you must then stay at home for at least 10 days.

Somebody you live with.
Coughing.
A high temperature.
Staying at home.
A fornight (14 days).

If somebody you live with starts coughing a lot, or if they have a high temperature, you must stay at home for at least two weeks. (This is 14 days.)

Tell someone if you feel poorly.

If you feel poorly, tell somebody you trust.

Don't go to hospital unless you have to or somebody there says it's OK.

You must not go to the doctor or the hospital unless they tell you it is OK, or if it is an emergency.

You can call the NHS on 111.

You can call the NHS by dialling 111 on your phone if you need to speak to somebody because you feel poorly.