Latest News, Links and Updates for Coronavirus
We will be posting the latest information and links in this thread at the top of our dedicated Discussion board. Check here for regular updates on the Corona Virus.
We know that many of you will be impacted by the coronavirus (COVID -19) in the UK. Working with the NHS, health professional organisations and charities, we are updating our website information daily to ensure we get you trusted and timely information.
If you are sharing or using information and guidance posted by another member, please be mindful of where this information has come from. The latest information can be found on gov.uk and the NHS websites.
Comments
-
Our main page for finding information:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - what is it and where to go for information
0 -
-
-
Advice for Children who have an autoimmune condition.
The advice for children is the same as adults. The good news is that it doesn’t seem to affect children as severely. However, it is still important for children to wash their hands as they may be able to pass the virus on to adults.
Note: be sure to click the link headline on the SPARN site which opens a pdf document which may change:
0 -
Latest
Anyone who's been trying to follow the latest updates on COVID-19 will know the situation is changing rapidly.
*Latest advice* is for everyone is to stay at home and only go outside for food, health reasons or essential work.
Please visit our information page to keep up to date:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - what is it and where to go for information
0 -
NHS Letter
You may have received a letter from the NHS telling you that you’re clinically extremely vulnerable, or been contacted by your GP or hospital clinician.
If this has not happened, contact your GP or clinician and register with this service to get coronavirus support as a clinically extremely vulnerable person.
0 -
COVID-19 - assessing your risk
We know that if you or a loved one are living with a long-term health condition such as arthritis, the information available can be confusing.
We’ve pulled together the latest content from the NHS and worked with the British Rheumatology Society on guidance to help you assess your risk levels, and how best to protect yourself at this time.
0 -
Arthritis and coronavirus – looking after your emotional wellbeing
We know that many of you will be impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Whether you’ve been asked to stay at home, or you are supporting loved ones.
As you adjust to your different routines, you might be feeling anxious and it may feel harder to take care of your wellbeing. Read our full article:
0 -
Shielding
Following the new guidance being issued, we have updated our main Covid-19 page to reflect the 'stay alert' guidance and links have been added to specific information for people living in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
0 -
Two updates to our advice on Coronavirus:
Smell & Taste
18 May 2020 - our guidance has been updated to reflect that anosmia (a loss of smell and taste) has been added to the UK's list of symptoms that people should look out for and self-isolate with. Link.
Hydroxychloroquine
Please note, there's no evidence hydroxychloroquine is useful in preventing coronavirus and we have assurance from MHRA that there are no shortages for those already taking it. Read more about Hydroxychloroquine
0 -
Shielding updates
On 31 May, the guidance for those shielding in England and Wales was revised. The new guidelines say that those who are in the shielding group can start to spend time outdoors.
The UK Government has updated its guidance for those people who are shielding because covid-19 infection levels are substantially lower than when the shielding was first introduced.
In England:
In England, if you are in the shielding group, you are now allowed to exercise once a day outside your home by yourself, with a member of your household, or, if you live alone, you are now allowed to meet one person from another household, as long as social distancing is maintained (keeping two metres apart).
In Wales:
In Wales the guidance goes a bit further and says that those who are shielding can take unlimited exercise outside and meet people from another household, as long as social distancing is maintained (keeping two metres apart). This guidance also recommends not going into another person’s house or sharing food with them.
In Northern Ireland and Scotland, shielding advice remains unchanged from. We are continuing to monitor Government announcements from each nation and will update our web pages as more information becomes available.
Should I stop shielding/go outside?
We understand this latest announcement has caused confusion, especially to those who are shielding. And we’ve heard from many people who are concerned that there is still a risk to their health.
Shielding guidance is just advice, meaning you can choose how to follow it. If you are worried or uncomfortable about going outside, it may help to speak to a member of your healthcare team, such as your GP or rheumatologist about your situation.
0 -
Support bubbles and meeting others from outside your household
In England, from the 13 June, if you live by yourself or are a single parent with dependent children, you can expand your household to include one other household of any size. These are being called support bubbles. Read the latest Gov UK guidance and find out more about how support bubbles will work.
Currently, if you're shielding you shouldn't form a support bubble with someone outside your household.
0 -
Cova - the COVID-19 Virtual Assistant
We launched COVA, the COVID-19 Virtual Assistant, to provide much needed additional support to people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.
COVA is a button-based chatbot designed to help people with arthritis get relevant health information relating to COVID-19 quickly. It’s available 24/7, complementing existing services, which have seen an unprecedented increase during the pandemic.
Read how to use COVA here: https://www.versusarthritis.org/get-help/cova/
0 -
Guidance Update
22nd June 2020 - our information has been updated to reflect the changes to guidance in England.
Whether you’re self-isolating at home, supporting loved ones or caring for those in the community, we’ll continue to stand by, support and speak up for people living with arthritis.
0 -
1st July Update
Our Covid-19 information page has been updated to reflect the latest updates that have been issued.
From 29 June, in Northern Ireland, social distancing has been reduced from 2m to 1m. Read the latest COVID-19 - Northern Ireland.
From 6 July, in Wales, people from two separate households will be allowed to join together to form an extended household or 'bubble'. This means they will be able to meet indoors and stay overnight.
Read the latest COVID-19 advice - Wales and get further information about extended households on the Gov Wales website.
For finding the latest information for where you are, please visit our Coronavirus (Covid-19) and Arthritis page on the website.
0 -
7th July Update
Our Covid-19 information page has been updated to reflect the latest updates that have been issued.
Restriction for people in England were relaxed on 6th July, but if you live in Leicester and are on the Shielding Patient List, you should continue to shield. Everyone on the list should receive a text and a letter from Monday 6th July.
Shielding
The UK Government is updating its guidance for those people who are shielding because COVID-19 infection levels are substantially lower than when shielding was first introduced. We're continuing to monitor Government announcements from each nation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
For updates where you are, read our dedicated resources for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Find the latest information, please visit our Coronavirus (Covid-19) and Arthritis page on the website.
0 -
5th August
- Our information page has been updated to reflect the news that you should self-isolate for 10 days if you have symptoms of coronavirus.
- Guidance has been issued regarding restrictions for people living in Aberdeen, check the latest guidance on Gov Scot website.
- Find out the latest COVID-19 advice - Scotland.
Keep up to date with the latest information on our dedicated page:
0 -
COVID-19 employment and work information
Update: 4 August 2020
We know that many people with arthritis have questions about working during the pandemic.
Here’s our guidance in response to your frequently asked questions to help support you during these uncertain times.
Your questions answered:
- Returning to work
- Keeping safe at work
- Furlough
- Financial support
- We're here for you
0 -
Flu and pneumonia vaccinations
If you've not had your annual flu vaccine, we would recommend you do so as soon as possible. This can be arranged through your GP or pharmacist.
To prepare for future increases in coronavirus cases and reduce pressure on emergency care the NHS will be contacting more people and asking them to have the free flu vaccine this year.
This includes:
- people who have been shielding and members of their households
- all school-aged children up to year 7
- people aged over 65
- pregnant women
- people considered to be at risk because of pre-existing conditions, including children under 2.
People aged 50 to 64 will now also be asked to have the free vaccination later in the year.
If you are not contacted by the NHS about the flu vaccine and believe you should be eligible speak to your GP or pharmacist. If you are not included in the free vaccine programme but want to have the inoculation, they will be able to help you.
Speak to your healthcare team to find out if you need the pneumonia vaccine.
1 -
Latest Updates
Monday 21st September
Our information has been updated to reflect the local restrictions in place. Read the latest COVID-19 advice for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Current advice for people with arthritis recommends that you should wash your hands regularly, practice socially distance according to the 2-metre guidelines and stay at home as much as possible.
It's important to try to keep active, eat healthy and take care of your wellbeing. We’ve published these articles which include advice to help support you.
- Looking after your wellbeing
- Managing your pain at home
- Staying at home and arthritis
- Staying active with arthritis
There are likely to be differences at a more local level when required. If there’s different advice where you are, your local council website should have details. Find your local council at gov.uk
More Advice can be found on our dedicated Coronavirus page, including help on self-isolating and shielding.
2 -
Advice Changing
Our information has been updated to reflect the updated local alert levels introduced in England. Read the latest COVID-19 advice for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Shielding and protecting the most vulnerable
If you are being treated for an autoimmune condition it may increase your risk of getting coronavirus.
At the height of the pandemic you may have been advised to shield or self-isolate to protect yourself. i.e. to stay at home and avoid any face-to-face contact for a period of at least 12 weeks, although the advice on the period of time varied as the government kept progress against the Coronavirus under review.
Restrictions on shielding have now eased for all across the UK, but the advice varies across the nations - please check the Government's guidance for each England, Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland.
If there’s different advice for your specific area, your local council website should have details. Find your local council at gov.uk
With the most recent announcements for England, we understand that shielding is not being reintroduced in England, because of the other protective measures in place - such as the rule of six and the wearing of face coverings in shops - to help reduce the spread.
Although this does not reduce your risk from the virus, it does mean you are able to get out more and can mix with small groups of people.
For specific information about shielding and support available where you are, read our dedicated resources for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
We're continuing to monitor Government announcements from each nation and will provide updates as more information becomes available. For more information read Arthritis and COVID-19 - what are the risks?
More Advice can be found on our dedicated Coronavirus page:
2 -
Update 16th October
There is new advice on shielding on our Coronavirus page with changes to what is posted above.
Covid-19 Advice for England has also been updated, as well as appropriate parts of the 3 other nations pages, where appropriate.
Arthritis and COVID-19 - what are the risks? has also been updated to reflect the tiered alert system for England, based on infection rates in local areas.
0 -
Information has now been updated to reflect the local alert levels introduced in England and the announcement of the the circuit breaker lockdown in Wales from 23 October.
Read the latest COVID-19 advice for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
0 -
Shielding and protecting the most vulnerable
If you're being treated for an autoimmune condition it may increase your risk of getting coronavirus. At the height of the pandemic you may have been advised to shield or self-isolate to protect yourself.
The guidance on shielding and protecting vulnerable people varies across the nations. Here are some of the latest updates:
- Government guidance for 'clinically extremely vulnerable' people - this is the group defined by the government to potentially be the most vulnerable to COVID-19:
If you were originally asked to shield, you will receive more advice for how to further protect yourself, and the support available to you.
2. Latest Versus Arthritis guidance for where you are:
For more detailed information and definitions of the different 'vulnerable' groups read
If you're in the 'clinically vulnerable' group, you may more vulnerable to COVID-19 than the average person, but not as much as the people in the 'clinically extremely vulnerable' group. This is similar to the group eligible for the annual flu vaccine.
The advice for people in this group is to follow social distancing advice and stay at home as much as possible.
1 -
Vaccines for COVID-19 – your questions answered
New information which includes:
- What vaccines are available
- When will people with arthritis receive the vaccine?
- Are there any side effects?
... and lots more.
1
Categories
- All Categories
- 12.1K Our Community
- 9.6K Living with arthritis
- 774 Chat to our Helpline Team
- 390 Coffee Lounge
- 20 Food and Diet
- 223 Work and financial support
- 6 Want to Get Involved?
- 169 Hints and Tips
- 398 Young people's community
- 12 Parents of Child with Arthritis
- 38 My Triumphs
- 127 Let's Move
- 33 Sports and Hobbies
- 244 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 21 How to use your online community
- 35 Community Feedback and ideas