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Coronavirus: How long can I exercise for each day? And other questions Coronavirus: Can I still walk my dog? And other questions
(3 days later)
The UK government has introduced strict new measures to try to slow the spread of coronavirus. The head of the World Health Organization has warned that the number of people infected with Covid-19 across the globe will reach a million within days. More than 2,900 people have now died from the disease in the UK.
Here are the answers to some of the most common readers' questions. Here are the answers to some of the most common readers' questions about the current situation.
Is there a time limit on how long we can be outside for once-a-day exercise, and are we allowed to get in our car to travel to go for a walk? - Sam Fearn, York Can I walk my dog under the category of daily exercise? - James Leslie, Burgess Hill
The current government guidance is to take "one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk or cycle - alone or with members of your household". Yes you can.
No mention is given to the length of exercise, although Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said on Tuesday that "people can go for the standard length of run or walk that they ordinarily would have done. But… the important thing is, once a day". According to government advice for people with animals, if you have a dog that needs walking, you should count this as the one form of exercise you take every day.
You should be extremely careful that you will be able to maintain a social distance of more than 2m (6ft) from other people wherever you go. It's important that you should remain 2m away from anyone outside your household while walking your dog.
The restrictions did not originally state whether people could use their car to get to, say, a beauty spot in order to take exercise. However, the government has now said that people should "stay local" and use open spaces near their home. Several police forces have tried to discourage people from making non-essential journeys, fearing that it could encourage overcrowding - and with it, the spread of the virus. The RAC has also advised drivers only to make essential journeys. There is no guidance from the government on whether your dog should be on a lead, but some parks, including The Royal Parks, insist on this as a rule, to help ensure people maintain social distance.
I lost my sense of taste and smell over seven days ago. Is this a symptom? - Liz Clarke, Manchester As well as your daily exercise, you may also leave the house to care for a vulnerable person, and this care may involve walking their dog.
Ear, nose and throat specialists in the UK have also noticed rising reports of anosmia - the term for loss of smell. When you do this, you should always remember to wash your hands before and after handling the dog, and remain 2m away from the owner.
And increasing numbers of people on social media have been reporting a lost sense of smell and taste. Some have tested positive for coronavirus. How long does the virus live on different surfaces? A friend gets my paper and shopping, and I have meals delivered - how do I unpack? - Mrs Rye, Crewe
However, the evidence so far is only anecdotal and viruses behind the common cold often lead to lost senses of smell and/or taste. Covid-19 is primarily spread in tiny droplets released from the nose and mouth of an infected person as they cough. The most common way for the virus to be transmitted appears to be through close contact with an infected person.
My car is due its MOT. Are garages still open and doing this service? - Stewart Oxley, Coulby Newham However, evidence suggests the virus can live for an extended time outside of the body, including on surfaces. If you touch a contaminated surface and then your nose or mouth, there's a possibility you could become infected.
The government has granted a temporary six-month MOT extension to all cars, motorcycles and light vans which have an MOT due from 30 March. However, it says that all vehicles need to be kept in a roadworthy condition, and taken to a garage if they need repairs (garages are allowed to remain open under the new restrictions). A study published last month suggests the virus survives longest on plastic and stainless steel surfaces - up to two to three days - and can live for up to 24 hours on cardboard. However, over that time the virus is likely to become less powerful.
Vehicles due for an MOT before 30 March should still be taken in for testing, unless their owner is self-isolating. Where possible, it is a good idea to either disinfect the packaging with kitchen spray or discard it before washing your hands with soap and water.
MOTs have been suspended for lorries, buses and trailers for up to three months. For items like a newspaper that can't be washed, the likelihood of transmission is low, but it still makes sense to practise regular hand washing.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has also suspended driving and motorcycle tests in England, Scotland and Wales for up to three months from 21 March, except for critical workers. Bearing in mind the virus's durability, it's also worth regularly disinfecting plastic and stainless steel surfaces such as door handles.
All practical driving tests are also currently suspended in Northern Ireland until 22 June. Is it safe to buy fruit and veg, including salad food that is not in any packaging and if it is not, what should I do to make it safe? - R Doyle, Berkeley
I'm a vulnerable person and social interaction is needed with my carer. Is he allowed to visit me? - Lee Thompson, Barrow-in-Furness The British Retail Consortium says retailers and their suppliers are continuing to work to the highest standards of hygiene when handling products, and are observing safety processes set by the Food Standards Agency and Public Health England.
If your carer is providing essential support, the government says that this should continue as normal, as long as the carer doesn't have symptoms of coronavirus. However, it makes sense to wash unpackaged items such as fruit and vegetables thoroughly under running water, before leaving them to dry. You should also then wash your hands with soap and water.
It's advised that any visitors to your home should wash their hands for 20 seconds with water and soap before and regularly during their visit, and keep a distance of 2m (6ft) away from you. Is there a particular blood group more prone to Covid-19? - Gregory Cassidy, Belfast
Additionally, it's important to keep a list of alternative people who can help you if your carer becomes ill. There may be a chance some blood types have a higher risk of getting a serious dose of Covid-19 than others, a small early study suggests.
Researchers assessed 2,173 coronavirus hospital patients in Shenzhen and Wuhan in China, where the outbreak originated.
They found patients with A blood group types were more likely to have been hospitalised than average, while those with an O blood group type were less likely.
In the local population, 32% had a type A blood group, compared with 38% of those in hospital. Meanwhile, 34% of residents had type 0 blood, compared with 26% in hospital.
However, this study has not yet been peer reviewed and only covered a small area, so these links may be coincidental. Everyone should be doing all they can to avoid catching the virus and passing it on to others, regardless of their blood type.
What is the current policy on birthing partners? - Daniela Sponder, Croydon
Expectant mothers should be encouraged to have a birth partner with them during labour and birth, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says, unless the partner is showing symptoms of coronavirus.
As local trusts may place restrictions on visitors, partners may not be able to go to antenatal appointments, or stay with women on antenatal or postnatal wards. But this doesn't mean they cannot attend the birth, as long as they feel well.
Some NHS trusts will allow only one birth partner to be in attendance, where previously they had allowed two. There were reports that others had banned partners' attendance altogether, before doing a U-turn on official advice.
Understandably, some pregnant women feel nervous about going into a hospital in case it increases their risk of catching the coronavirus.
Maternity units are carrying out some consultations over the phone or via video link, but some in-person visits with the midwife are essential for the wellbeing of the mother and baby, the Royal College of Midwives says.
It adds that home births may no longer be available in some local areas, mainly due to staff and ambulance shortages, but maternity wards are being kept as separate from Covid-19 treatment areas as possible.
What do I need to know about the coronavirus?What do I need to know about the coronavirus?
If somebody develops any symptoms of Covid-19, what action should someone pregnant in the house take regarding isolation? - Billy, Suffolk We're about to exchange on a house but have been advised by the solicitor not to. When will restrictions on house purchases be lifted? - Christian Jackson, South London
If someone in your home develops symptoms of coronavirus, the government advises vulnerable people - like those who are pregnant or over 70 years old - to stay with friends or family if they can during the isolation period of 14 days. There are currently no formal restrictions on moving house, although the government has strongly advised against it where possible. It says that while there is no need to pull out of transactions, buyers and renters should delay moving so they can observe social distancing and self-isolating guidelines.
If this is not possible, stay away from the individual with symptoms as much as possible. There is no evidence yet that pregnant women (and their babies) are at greater risk if they catch coronavirus, but the government says that they should be extra cautious for now. If the house you are moving into is empty, it's fine to carry on as long as these rules are observed during the removals process. If the property is occupied, the government is encouraging the buyer and seller to find an alternative moving date further down the line.
I work for the NHS and am divorced. My daughter needs to see her father. How can I assure I'm not spreading the virus around the two families? - Lisa Bishop, Godalming Mortgage lenders have also been tightening their restrictions, with some requiring a deposit of at least 25%. But this doesn't affect mortgages which have already been agreed. Many lenders are offering customers who have already exchanged the option to extend their mortgage offer for up to three months so that they can move at a later date.
If neither parent nor child is showing symptoms of the virus or self-isolating, children of separated parents are still allowed to stay with either of them. This timeframe may give you some idea of how long all of this could go on for, although nobody knows for sure.
Government guidance on staying at home says: "Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents' homes." The house buying process differs between Scotland and England and Wales, but the advice on delaying a move is the same.
However, the Family Division of the High Court has said that, in England and Wales, if one parent is worried that moving their child would be going against public health advice, they may "exercise their parental responsibility and vary the arrangement to one that they consider to be safe", even if the other parent does not agree.
Where this is the case, family courts will expect parents to allow contact by video chat or phone.
Cats and dogs in urban areas are being stroked by strangers. Can coronavirus be carried on their fur and infect other people who stroke them? - Barbara Whittaker, Okehampton, England
Even without the risk of coronavirus, you should always wash your hands after stroking, or otherwise handling animals.
But while it's thought that Covid-19 was originally passed to humans from animals, it is still not known how, and there are no recorded instances of humans catching it from their pets.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) says that it doesn't appear that pets are responsible for spreading the virus. However, further tests are being carried out to understand if and how animals are affected.
The OIE also recommends that people who are sick or receiving medical treatment for Covid-19, should avoid close contact with their pets, and have someone else care for their animals. If they must look after their pet, they should maintain good hygiene practices and wear a face mask if possible.
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