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Information about Covid-19

Covid-19 – what are the symptoms?

Some individuals with Covid-19 can have no symptoms at all.

The main symptoms of Coronavirus are:

– High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature);

– 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);

– 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;

– Most people with Coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.

How we plan to prevent and control the risks of Covid-19 transmission

Screening of patients for Covid-19 symptoms

All patients seeking physiotherapy must fill out our digital screening from for Covid-19. This will allow us to:

  • – Refer you to appropriate support services if you present with Covid-19 symptoms;
  • – Prevent the risk of transmitting Covid-19; and
  • – Determine if you are suitable for a face-to-face appointment, should you meet the necessary criteria.

Social distancing measures

Strict social distancing measures are to be enforced in our clinics, including:

  • – A minimum 15-minute gap, between appointment times for a practitioner’s patient schedule, staggered to avoid multiple patients arriving at the same or similar times.
  • – Waiting rooms are cleared of seating to avoid overlap of patients;
  • – Patients should be asked to arrive at their appointment time and not early (including waiting in their cars if possible), and only enter the premises once invited in by the therapist;
  • – A one-way system in clinic to reduce risk of patient cross-over; and
  • – Staff should always remain at least 2m apart;

Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PHYSIOTHERY IS CLASSED AS A HEALTHCARE SETTING HENCE FACEMASKS REMAIN

All staff operating either clinically or in the community must:

  • wear the following on face-to-face contact with patients either in clinic or in the community:
    – an appropriate face mask for level of interaction.
  • Risk assessment on patient-by-patient basis:

– disposable Gloves (single use);
– disposable plastic aprons (single use) or re-usable overalls;
– eye protection in the form of a surgical mask with integrated visor, a full-face shield or visor, or a polycarbonate safety spectacle or equivalent


Patients should:

  • – Wear face masks unless exempt.
  • – Not wear gloves.

Regular cleaning and sanitisation practices

First Physio will ensure to enforce a strict cleaning and sanitisation protocol in line with current legislation and guidance. For further details, see our Covid-19 Policy.

All attending patients should:

  • – Not touch the door, walls, switches etc on entry or exit;
  • – Only touch the chair and treatment couch;
  • – Not bring any belongings into the room;
  • – Not wear gloves prior to or during the treatment session and be directed by staff dispose of them immediately in the bin if they attend clinic wearing gloves;
  • – Wear face masks in clinical settings; and
  • – Clean their hands on entrance and exit to the clinic with antibacterial gel, or wash their hands with soap and water if practical (such as in-treatment room sinks)

All staff, patients and visitors must:

  • – practice respiratory and cough hygiene standard – ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’:
  • – Disposable, single-use tissues should be used to cover the nose and mouth when sneezing, coughing or wiping and blowing the nose ;
  • – Used tissues should be disposed of promptly in the nearest waste bin;
  • – Keep hands away from the eyes, mouth and nose; and
  • – Hands should be cleaned (using soap and water if possible, otherwise using alcohol-gel) after coughing, sneezing, using tissues or after any contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects.
  • – Some patients (such as the elderly and children) may need assistance with containment of respiratory secretions; those who are immobile will need a container (for example a plastic bag) readily at hand for immediate disposal of tissues.