Manchester City Council

COVID-19 Health Advice

Covid Spring Boosters  

This spring, the NHS is offering the COVID-19 vaccine to those at highest risk from severe illness. 

Protection against the virus fades over time, so all people aged 75 and above by 30 June 2023, or aged 5 and above with a weakened immune system, can now get an appointment. 

Vaccinations in care homes for older adults have begun. 

To book for yourself or a family member, please visit: 

People who are registered with a Manchester GP can also call the Gateway to book an appointment on 0161 947 0770 or 0800 092 4020, lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm. 

Health Advice 

 

Things that everyone can do to help control the virus   

 

  • Get your Covid-19 vaccinations – manchester.gov.uk/getmyjab  
  • Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer    
  • Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed places when you come into contact with people whom you do not normally meet    
  • Wash your hands regularly    
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean    
  • Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms - While you’re no longer required by law to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19, you should still stay at home and avoid contact with other people. This helps reduce the chance of passing COVID-19 on to others.   

What is COVID-19 and what are the symptoms?  

If you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, get a test and stay at home until you get the results.    

Symptoms of COVID-19 in adults can include:  

  • a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature 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 once an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours  
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste  
  • shortness of breath  
  • feeling tired or exhausted  
  • an aching body  
  • a headache  
  • a sore throat  
  • a blocked or runny nose  
  • loss of appetite  
  • diarrhoea  
  • feeling sick or being sick  

The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.   

What to do if you have symptoms?   

Try to stay at home for at least 5 days and avoid contact with other people if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and either:   

  • you have a high temperature  
  • you do not feel well enough to go to work or do your normal activities  

You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.   

Covid testing    

The provision of the government’s universal symptomatic (PCR) and asymptomatic (LFD) Covid-19 testing for the general public in England ended on 1 April 2022.  

However, the most vulnerable people will continue to receive free lateral flow test kits if they are symptomatic find out more information at Gov.uk     

For other people, they will be able to buy LFD kits at chemists and supermarkets.     

For the latest government Covid advice visit gov.uk/coronavirus

Find out when to self-isolate and what to do on the NHS website

Clinically vulnerable people   

Read the guidance on protecting people defined as medically vulnerable on the government's website

Get mental health support by text message   

The SHOUT text messaging service gives free, confidential mental health support by text message, and is now available to people of all ages who are in crisis. 

Quitting smoking   

Smokers may be more seriously affected by COVID-19 than non-smokers, so there's never been a better time to give up.   

The following resources are available to help you quit smoking:   

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