Coronavirus symptoms: Experiencing persistent pain here is a warning sign

The scale of the coronavirus assault on the UK became all too clear yesterday as the government announced that all non-urgent operations in England and Scotland will be postponed to free up beds for virus patients. This came as the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it would be a “good outcome” for the UK if the number of deaths from the virus could be kept below 20,000. Amid this heightened climate, it is essential to recognise the symptoms associated with the coronavirus so that you can protect yourself and others.

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The symptoms can range from mild to moderate depending on underlying risk factors.

The most commonly reported mild symptoms are a high temperature and a new, continuous cough.

If you experience these symptoms, public health bodies instruct you to self-isolate at home for seven days.

Emphasising the importance of self-isolating, the NHS insists that you do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You should also avoid contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home, says the NHS.

There a number of emergency warning signs to watch out for, however.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19, you should get medical attention immediately.

One emergency warning sign is persistent pain or pressure in the chest, says the CDC.

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Other emergency warning signs include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

As the NHS points out, if you experience symptoms, however mild or severe, it is important to adopt additional social distancing measures if you live with other people.

“If you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms,” explains the health body.

It adds: “If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days.”

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How to keep your mind occupied

Self-isolating may be critical at this time, but spending long periods of time at home can take its toll on your mood.

Public Health England (PHE) explains: “You may find your mood and feelings are affected and you may feel low, worried or have problems sleeping and you might miss being outside with other people.”

As the health body points out, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour which in turn can make you feel worse.

There are simple steps you can take to stay mentally and physically active during this time, however.

PHE recommends trying the following:

• Look for ideas of exercises you can do at home on the NHS website
• Spend time doing things you enjoy – this might include reading, cooking, other indoor hobbies or listening to the radio or watching TV programmes
• Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water, exercise regularly, and try to avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs
• Keep your windows open to let in fresh air, get some natural sunlight if you can, or get outside into the garden

“You can also go for a walk outdoors if you stay more than two metres from others,” explains the health site.

Coronavirus – what is the UK latest?

As of 9am on 17 March 2020, 50,442 people have been tested in the UK, of which 48,492 were confirmed negative and 1,950 were confirmed as positive.

The latest confirmed number of deaths will be announced later today.

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