Make sure to wash your hands properly.

You will have all seen recent media reports about the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. There are precautions that everyone can sensibly take to reduce the risk of infection, and chief among these is washing your hands thoroughly.

Proper handwashing technique should take at least 20 seconds, involving warm water and either liquid or hard soap. You should repeatedly lather both sides of your hands under the water, ensuring you also get in between your fingers to maximise the coverage of the soap. Make sure you do this after visiting the bathroom, eating or preparing food, shaking hands or touching surfaces in public places. If in doubt, there’s no such thing as washing too often!

If you are a parent, make sure your children know how to wash their hands properly, and monitor them if need be. Bear in mind that children are usually ‘super-spreaders’ for illnesses like this, so make sure your family maintain excellent hygiene practices.

If you think you have the symptoms of coronavirus, and in the last 14 days you’ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus, or you’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus:

• NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do

• The 111 website is 111.nhs.uk/covid-19

• You can stay up to date by visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus