Following confirmation of the first cases of coronavirus in Scotland, Fair Deal has compiled advice for people and their families on how to avoid exposure to the virus.

At Fair Deal we are reviewing the situation on a continuous basis and providing appropriate guidance and advice to our staff and those who use our services. We will continue to follow the NHS and Scottish Government guidelines in relation to minimising risk.

Based on the current position in regards to the coronavirus, the key messages for the general public from NHS Scotland are:

• If you have travelled to the UK from any of the confirmed high risk areas in the previous 14 days and are experiencing cough or fever or shortness of breath, you should to stay indoors, call your GP or if your surgery is closed ring NHS 24 (111) informing them of your symptoms and your recent travel. Do not leave home until you have been given advice by a clinician.
• This is peak season for respiratory and flu-like illness. There will be cases presenting with symptoms of cough, fever and shortness of breath, but these are highly unlikely to be novel coronavirus.
• The public can be assured that Scotland is always well prepared for these types of outbreak and will remain vigilant. We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and have established public health and infectious disease experts working round the clock.
• To protect yourself and others, it is best to:
• To kill germs, wash your hands with soap and water, or use a sanitiser gel.
• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze.
• Bin the tissue.
• For the latest public information on coronavirus visit www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus

There is a Q&A on coronavirus available via the World Health Organisation website:

https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses