AFTER the first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Warrington, we have checked for the latest advice on symptoms and how to stop it from spreading.

What are the symptoms?

  • a cough
  • a high temperature
  • shortness of breath

But NHS England say these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.

The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.

How to avoid catching or spreading it

There are things you can do to help stop viruses like coronavirus spreading.

Do

  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately
  • wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell

Don't

  • do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

READ > What 'self-isolating' actually means and what to do if you think you have it

What's the latest advice?

Residents are advised to spend 20 seconds washing their hands - humming the 'Happy birthday' tune to yourself twice will help you time how long to keep them under a tap.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that for "most people who catch this virus, it's relatively mild, and a bad cough".

For keeping kids entertained whilst washing their hands, there are a variety of songs you can choose to sing along with them, such as:

  • Mary had a little lamb
  • If you’re happy and you know it
  • Row, row, row your boat
  • The alphabet song

The NHS says that you should wash your hands with soap and water often, for a period of at least 20 seconds.

Start by applying enough soap to cover your hands, rub them together and remember to scrub the backs of your hands and in between your fingers on either hand.

The NHS says that for non-automated taps, you should use a disposable towel to turn off the tap to stop it running, instead of using your freshly cleaned hands.

This brilliant site also generates hand washing instructions accompanied by lyrics from a song of your choice

So far Bohemian Rhapsody has been one of the most popular

Or you could take chief executive of Warrington Borough Council Steven Broomhead's advice and try:

“Oh Warri, Warri, Warri, Warri, Warri, Warri, Warrington” twice

What's the latest travel advice?

Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if you’ve travelled to the UK from the following places, even if you do not have symptoms:

  • anywhere in Italy on or after 9 March
  • specific areas in northern Italy in the last 14 days
  • Iran in the last 14 days
  • Hubei province in China in the last 14 days
  • Daegu, Cheongdo or Gyeongsan in South Korea in the last 14 days

Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if you’ve travelled to the UK from the following places in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath, even if your symptoms are mild:

  • Italy (outside specific areas in northern Italy) before 9 March
  • mainland China outside of Hubei province
  • South Korea outside of Daegu, Cheongdo and Gyeongsan
  • Cambodia
  • Hong Kong
  • Japan
  • Laos
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next.

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You can find further advice here