Q: Dr, I have been reading about the levels of Coronavirus locally and I am worried that my partner has symptoms. What should I do?

A: First you need to be check that the symptoms are coronavirus. You can do that online at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/

The main symptoms 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 three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual).

The 111 online coronavirus service will ask about your symptoms and tell you what to do. Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.

If you live with someone who has symptoms, self-isolate for 14 days from the day their symptoms started. This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear.

If more than 1 person at home has symptoms, self-isolate for 14 days from the day the first person started having symptoms. If you get symptoms while self-isolating – you should self-isolate for seven days from when your symptoms started, even if it means you're self-isolating for longer than 14 days.

If you do not get symptoms while self-isolating, you can stop self-isolating after 14 days.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus, you can apply to be tested if you: are an essential worker (such as people who work for the NHS, emergency services, teachers or utilities workers); are aged 65 or over; cannot work from home (such as transport workers, food producers, construction workers or delivery drivers); live with an essential worker, someone aged 65 or over, or someone who cannot work from home.

Q: Dr, I am finding the lockdown very stressful and feel that my depression and anxiety is getting out of control. I feel that I have nowhere to turn and it is getting worse every day.

A: If you need urgent help as you are in mental health distress, then there is always someone you can call.

There is now a Mental Health Urgent Response Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 0800 953 0110.

It is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services – ring it if you need to access services or for advice about someone who needs treatment/support.

This is really good news for the people of Lancashire and South Cumbria who can rest assured that despite the lockdown it is business as usual for mental health services. To ensure we’re able to safely care for our patients while adhering to the Government’s social distancing rules, many people can now attend appointments either by telephone or via an online consultation software that is both secure and safe.

Patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria can now see their clinicians via online consultations, from their own homes. This means that regular appointments can continue safely even if patients or healthcare professionals are self-isolating.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) has implemented the new system, called ‘Attend Anywhere’, with around 700 healthcare staff at the Trust presently able to do online consultations.

This new style of consultation has been introduced to help people experiencing chronic pain in their muscles or joints, and adults and expecting or new mums with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia

and bipolar disorder.

All you need to do is click a link on a tablet, smart phone, or laptop that has access to a camera or a webcam.