Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. It has been designated as pandemic affecting many countries globally, including the UK.

It is still possible to catch and spread COVID-19, even if you are fully vaccinated.

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result should stay at home and self-isolate immediately. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible, even if you’ve had one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

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 most important symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of any of the following:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell

Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, or cancer, are at higher risk of developing serious illness. However, anyone can catch COVID-19 and become seriously ill. Even people with very mild symptoms of COVID-19 can transmit the virus. People of all ages who experience fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

All of us can play our part by understanding the situations where risks of COVID-19 infection and transmission are likely to be higher, and taking action to reduce these risks.

While no situation is risk free, there are easy and effective actions we can take to protect ourselves and others around us.

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 this may not always be possible. If you’re indoors, you should let fresh air in to reduce the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19.

The more fresh air you let into your home or other enclosed spaces, the less likely a person is to inhale infectious particles.

You can let in fresh air by uncovering vents and opening doors and windows. Opening your windows for just 10 minutes, or a small amount of time continuously where you can, makes a significant difference. This is particularly important before, during and after meeting people you do not live with indoors.

We recommend that you follow official medical and health advice provided by the government, COVID-19: ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Our office has re-opened and our service to residents continues to be provided within the advice supplied from the Government.

Our repairs service is operating as normal. Your residents handbook gives details on how we categorise a repair.  As well as by phone non urgent repairs can also be reported by text on 0191 5805802 or by visiting the repairs page of our website,  where you will also find a full list of emergency repairs. To ensure we deal with your emergency repair as quickly as possible please contact us by telephone.

Government guidelines state that anyone who has coronavirus symptoms must self isolate. We would only access your home during this time if there was likely to be a serious health & safety breach. Each case would be looked at independently.

All of our staff and contractors are asked to follow current government guidelines when entering your home

We want to help you through this challenging time and if you feel you are unable to pay please contact us to discuss your case.

Our Housing Officers will always contact you via telephone in the first instance to ensure we keep you as safe as possible.

Our aim is to keep residents as safe from the virus as possible.

If you have no family, friends or carers for support, please contact us so we can work with external agencies to help you get the support you need.

Residents who have no support for things like shopping can receive help by using the following telephone numbers:

Area – Durham

Durham County Council – 03000 260260

Age UK County Durham –0191 386 3856

Area – Gateshead

Gateshead Council – 0191 433 7112

Age UK Gateshead – 0191 477 3559

Area – South Tyneside

South Tyneside Council – 0191 424 6000

Area – Sunderland

Sunderland Council – 0800 234 6084

Sunderland Age Concern – 0191 514 1331