Keep Sussex Safe
COVID-19 will be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future, so we need to learn to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others. The government has removed all remaining domestic restrictions in England, but there are still simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19.
- Get vaccinated – all adults in England have now been offered at least 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and those eligible have now been offered a booster. The vaccines are the best way of protecting yourself and others against the virus and it’s never too late to get yours. Find out how to get your vaccine in Sussex.
- Let fresh air in if you meet indoors – meeting outdoors is safer. When a person infected with COVID-19 coughs, talks or breathes, they release droplets and aerosols which can be breathed in by another person. Meeting outdoors vastly reduces the risk of airborne transmission, but you can also bring the risk down by letting fresh air in if you’re indoors.
- Wear a face covering – whilst there is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering, the Government suggests that you continue to wear one in crowded and enclosed spaces. NHS staff, patients and visitors must continue to wear a face covering in healthcare settings, unless they are exempt.
- Try to stay at home if you’re feeling unwell – staying home if you have the flu, a cold or another common illness which can be passed on to other people helps reduce the burden on our health services.
- Wash your hands regularly – wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day. Where possible, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and try to cover coughs and sneezes to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
Read the full guidance on staying safe and preventing the spread of coronavirus on the Government website.
NHS services
NHS and other healthcare services have been open throughout the pandemic and are available to help you when you need us. We want to do everything we can to keep you well. If you do need care, make sure you know which services to use by visiting our help us help you pages. This will ensure you get the right treatment in the right place at the right time and help others by using NHS services wisely.
Whilst the government has removed all remaining domestic restrictions in England, testing for patients and staff in healthcare settings remains, as well as the need to wear masks in healthcare settings unless you are exempt.
The consistent application of infection control measures in healthcare settings, alongside the roll out of the vaccine programme and staff and patient testing, remains the most effective defence against the entry and spread of COVID-19 in healthcare settings.
Therefore:
- You are expected to wear a mask if you are attending or visiting a healthcare setting unless you are exempt;
- Healthcare staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not attend work until they have had two negative LFD test results taken 24 hours apart. The first test should not be taken before day 5 after their initial positive test.
Please continue to attend all booked appointments unless you are contacted by the NHS and told otherwise. However, please do not attend a healthcare setting if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.
If you need to visit somebody in one of our hospitals, please visit the relevant hospital trust’s website below to find their latest visiting guidance:
