You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
To find out the latest information and advice about coronavirus in Torbay see our coronavirus section.
Find out more about helping others safely
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is important that you stay safe whilst you are supporting others. Our Reducing the Spread page contains lots of information about preventing the transmission of COVID-19. The Government has also published guidance on How to Help Safely
There are three actions which everyone can do, and these apply when helping others too.
These are:
Stay two metres apart from people you do not live with (social distancing)
Wear a face-covering indoors, when you’re not at your home
Wash your hands regularly
If you are visiting people to deliver food or care, it is important to maintain 2 metres distance whenever possible. It is also important to wear a face-covering indoors, particularly if it is not possible to maintain social distance at all times. If you need to meet others indoors whilst volunteering, try and keep the space well ventilated. You should not enter other people’s homes unless it is absolutely necessary.
There are a few other things you can do to make sure that you can maintain social distance whilst visiting others to deliver food or care:
Guidance for Providing Unpaid Care provides advice to people who provide care to friends or family, including for people who are clinically vulnerable or extremely clinically vulnerable.
You don’t need to wear personal protective equipment when delivering care unless advised to do so by a health professional. Local advice and information about personal protective equipment is available.
It is particularly important that we protect those who are at most risk from COVID-19.
If you are extremely clinically vulnerable, we do not recommend that you volunteer to help others if it would mean you need to leave your home. If you are clinically vulnerable, volunteering for roles which you can do from your home is safer.
If you need to self-isolate because you or someone you have been in contact with has tested positive for COVID-19, then you must stay at home and not care for others during this time. Advice on how to self-isolate is available.
It is important to look after your own health and wellbeing as well as supporting others. Guidance on mental wellbeing during the pandemic is available and Support to People Whilst Isolating provides information on local and national services.
Tips include making sure that you care for your mind and do physical activity. Daily physical activity is important for health and wellbeing, including managing stress and encouraging positive feelings and sleep. The government have also developed guidance on the 5 ways to mental wellbeing.