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Stanway in Colchester

Coronavirus (COVID 19)

This page has general information and advice about COVID-19.

There are no coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in the UK.

If you have COVID-19 you should try to stay at home.

Most people cannot get free COVID-19 tests. You can buy tests in shops but you cannot report the result to the NHS.


The main symptoms of COVID-19 are:

  • a high temperature – this 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 an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Click on: NHS website- COVID-19 symptoms for full symptoms, how to check and what to do if you have symptoms.

NOTE: From 1 April 2022 tests are no longer free for most people, see: Changes to testing.


Links for further information::


Beware of Coronavirus scams - see FRAUD ALERTS for details of email, phone and text scams plus doorstep callers using Coronavirus and other opportunities to gain access or trick vulnerable/elderly into parting with money.

Last Updated on 6th March 2024