Coronavirus (Covid-19) advice for residents

Keep up with the latest coronavirus restrictions and what to do if you have symptoms.

Coronavirus information from government

While cases are high and rising, everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious. The latest key messages from government include:

• Getting a test if you have symptoms
• Getting a test if you don't have symptoms, if you are in education, high risk workplaces and to help you manage your own personal risk
• Making sure you self-isolate if you test positive or when contacted by NHS Test and Trace
• Expecting and recommending that you wear face coverings in crowded areas, such as public transport
• Be outside or let fresh air in
• Minimise the number, closeness and duration of your social contacts

You can find full details about the current restrictions on the government's website.

Infection rates in Aldershot and Farnborough

Please see the GOV.UK - coronavirus statistics for Rushmoor web page for the latest daily data.

Rapid testing for people without symptoms

Around one in three people with coronavirus don't have any symptoms, but can still pass the virus on to other people.

Anyone can now get a free rapid test to check they are not carrying the virus.

You can collect test kits from local pharmacies and from the Parsons Barracks local testing centre in Aldershot. Some pharmacies are also offering supervised tests.

You can find out more on our Rapid testing for coronavirus page.

Check if you have coronavirus symptoms 

The main symptoms of coronavirus are: 

• A high temperature - this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) 
• A new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) 
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal 

Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms. 

Get a test for coronavirus

If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus: 

• Get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible 
• Stay at home and do not have visitors until you get your test result - only leave your home to have a test 

Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get your test results. If you get a positive test, you must self-isolate for ten days from the day your symptoms started.

If you are worried about your symptoms or are not sure what to do, use the NHS 111 online service.  

Getting a coronavirus test 

Testing is free and involves a swab of the nose and back of the throat, which takes less than a minute.

You can find out more about testing in our animation below:

Local testing sites

There is a local testing centre available in the Parsons Barracks car park in Ordnance Road, Aldershot.

The testing site is by appointment only. If you have coronavirus symptoms, you must book a test using the government's website. You should be offered a test at the nearest test centre with appointments available.

Anyone who doesn't have access to the internet can call 119 to book a test.

NHS COVID-19 app 

The NHS COVID-19 app is available to download for free in England and Wales. It is the fastest way to see if you're at risk from coronavirus. The faster you know, the quicker you can alert and protect your loved ones and community. 

The app has a number of tools to protect you, including contact tracing, local area alerts and venue check-in.  

See the below video for more information about the NHS COVID-19 app. 

Advice for the Nepali community

The Cambridge GP practice in Aldershot has produced a video giving coronavirus advice for the local Nepali community.

You can view the video on YouTube.