The Alton Street Surgery in Ross-on-Wye has stepped up to give clear and up to date advice regarding the ongoing Coronavirus situation and to try and assess the spread of it in the HR9 area. While they admit that there is a lot they don’t know regarding the risk factors they suggest that anyone with a fever or a cough should assume it is Covid and self isolate, for other people they say it is important to maintain social distancing.

They have introduced an online survey of symptoms to try to get an idea of how many people have symptoms, how many are isolating and how many are well, as they currently have little idea.

Staff at John Kyrle High School are already supplying information regarding the number of pupils missing school for reasons connected to the virus. These are subdivided into those with possible symptoms and those being cautious. While no personal information is shared, it supports medical teams with their tracking. The local authority has commended the school for this proactive work by the school within the local community and others may be invited to do the same.

The surgery is asking people with access to computers to fill out the form on behalf of people in HR9 postcode and to spread the message to people who may not interact with Facebook as frequently as others. Complete it once for each person you represent. Please don’t complete it more than once daily as they are trying to avoid duplicate data which will make results less accurate. You don’t have to complete it every day, but it helps to if your symptoms change. It also really helps to record even if people are well. That is the only way we will know how widespread symptoms are.

For more information visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCk-fR_aBuKTvYXCDtrOU48iihzcGyFT1ymyQgIsHisq4nbg/viewformThere is also advice at Public Health England www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection