i
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Patient information
Coronaviruses are common across Why am I being screened
the world. Typical symptoms of for coronavirus?
Covid-19 include fever and a cough.
Coronaviruses are transmitted from
Most people will experience mild
person to person, after close contact
symptoms but some people may
with someone with Covid-19, for
progress to a severe pneumonia
example, in a household workplace,
causing shortness of breath and
or health care centre.
breathing difficulties.
Generally speaking, coronavirus When and where will I be
can cause more severe symptoms screened for coronavirus?
in people with weakened immune You will usually be screened when you
systems, older people, and those with come into hospital/unit. This means
long-term conditions like diabetes, you will need to isolate in your room
cancer or chronic lung disease. until the swab results are returned.
What are the symptoms How will I be screened
of someone infected with for coronavirus?
a coronavirus? We can find out if you are positive
Common signs include respiratory for coronavirus, using a swab of
symptoms, fever, cough, shortness your throat and nose. A swab is a
of breath, and breathing difficulties. cotton bud which is placed on the
Most symptoms for most people area be tested. The test is painless,
will be mild. In more severe cases, though can be uncomfortable but
infection can cause pneumonia, only takes a few seconds.
severe acute respiratory syndrome,
kidney failure and even death.
When will I get the results What can I do to protect
from the swabs? myself and others?
Your swabs will be sent to a
laboratory, which tests them for
Covid-19. The results come two
to three days, but may be sooner.
What happens after I
• Maintaining good hand hygiene:
have been screened?
washing your hands with soap and
If you are found to be positive water after using the toilet, before
for Covid-19 you will remain in meals and meal preparation, after
Isolation until a re-test shows you coughing and sneezing.
to be negative. Staff will need to
wear protective equipment when
providing care: gloves, aprons
masks and visors even if you
do not have symptoms.
Is there a vaccine for • Cough or sneeze into a tissue,
a novel coronavirus? disposing of the tissue, and then
When a disease is new, there is washing your hands.
no vaccine until one is developed.
It can take several years for a new
vaccine to be developed
Is there a treatment for
a novel coronavirus?
• Maintaining a distance of
There is no specific treatment two metres from other people.
for Covid-19. However many of
the symptoms can be treated • Avoiding close contact, when
and supportive care can be possible, with anyone showing
highly effective. symptoms of respiratory illness
such as coughing and sneezing.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, ©
Central and North West London
350 Euston Road, Regent’s Place, London NW1 3AX NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 020 3214 5700 www.cnwl.nhs.uk Ref: 1900_MAY2020 | May 2020
