For information on the Vaccine against Covid -19 please see this helpful blog:
https://blog.cityofsanctuary.org/2021/02/08/views-of-people-seeking-asylum-on-the-covid-vaccines
There are lots of myths circulating on social media about how to protect yourself from the Covid-19 virus. (See Keeping to the facts below.) We recommend the official NHS guidance
- NHS Advice
- Healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland
- Public Health Wales provides information on how to protect vulnerable people (shielding)
- FAQ – latest easing of the lockdown – What you can and can’t do (UK government)
- Information on the NHS Test and Trace Service (See below for info on scams)
Latest Translations in Multiple Languages
- Managing anxiety and new routines after lockdown – click here to managing anxiety leaflet and here for managing new routines leaflet.
- Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation POST covid hub – click here.
- COVID recovery info hub by NHS – click here.
- Official Guidance on accessing green spaces and outdoor activities safely – click here.
- Translated: NHS – when and how to book your vaccine appointment – Available in: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Kurdish, Nepali, Panjabi, Polish, Romanian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog and Urdu.
- Translated: Symptom free test and trace information for parents and carers – available in English, Arabic, Bengali , Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi (India), Punjabi (Pakistan), Romanian, Slovak, Somali, Urdu, Welsh
- Translated: Guide to taking a lateral flow test – Available in English, Easy Read, Large Print, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Gujarati, Polish, Punjabi (Gurmukhi script), Romanian | Somali, Turkish, Urdu, Welsh
- Translated: Post Covid syndrome / long Covid – caring for yourself – available in English, Spanish and Portuguese
- Translated: Long Covid information sheets and infographics – COVID-19 Long-COVID Information Sheet – English, French , German, Spanish as well as COVID-19 Long-COVID Infographic – English, French, German, Spanish
- Translated: Factsheets addressing myths about vaccines – Available in: English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
- Translated: Astra Zeneca – Blood clots – video advice from Thrombosis UK – Available in: Arabic, French, Punjabi (India), Urdu
- Translated guidance for people who need to travel to work – Available in: English, Arabic, Kurdish (Sorani), French, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish
- Translated: UK.Gov guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection (including when everyone is vaccinated – Available in: English, Easy Read, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, Gujarati, Polish, Punjabi (India), Urdu and with a Stay at home illustration
- Translated material on information for people in multiple occupancy housing – Available in; English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Kurdish (Sorani), Lithuanian, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tigrinya, Turkish
- Multilingual COVID-19 helpline – click here.
- Helpful list of Muslim mental health and support service by the Muslim Council for Britain – click here.
- Official Posters: You can have the vaccine during Ramadan – click here.
- Translated: Updated Spot the Signs Videos – available in Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Czech, Farsi, Kurdish (Sorani), Polish, Punjabi (India), Romanian, Slovak, Tigrinya, Urdu
- Translated: From lockdown to relaxation: tips on looking after your mental health – available in: English, Arabic, French, Farsi, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu, Welsh
- Translated material on ‘it’s OK to have the vaccination in Ramadan’ videos – available in: English, Pashto, Urdu
Please try to get this information out to people whose first language is not English.
Healthcare advice from Doctors of the World in 60 languages – in partnership with Clear Voice, Red Cross and Migrant Help. Includes video and audio files and animations to come. See also their Translated health Information for Patients page covering a range of health topics, including coronavirus and migrants’ healthcare rights in the UK, and come in a variety of formats including the brilliant Infographic on Migrants Right to Healthcare.
Basic Covid-19 guidance as an infographic in multiple languages
– How to do a Covid-19 test at home: video in various languages
- COVID-19 infographics available online in multiple languages – website now includes translated material on face coverings, as well as information on places of worship reopening in 40 languages including Arabic, Bengali, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi, Urdu and many more.
- International Organisation for Migration (IOM) UK office have a free helpline for multilingual information on Covid-19 and support 0800 464 3380 (Mon-Fri 10 -12 and 2-4)
- Y&H Migrant Information Hub provide Basic current Covid guidance as an infographic in multiple languages as well as How to do a Covid-19 test at home: video in various languages and also translated guides on the “Rule of 6”
- Translators Without Borders glossary of COVID terms – developed in 33 languages to address language barriers involving COVID-19 which may be useful for key workers and community translators. Click here to access.
- Test and Trace Videos in 14 languages – Peterborough City Council have created videos on the test and trace service in multiple languages, including English, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Czech, Hindi, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Swahili, Tetum and Urdu.
- Quarantine rules for travel, explained in Arabic – thanks to Migration Yorkshire for sharing, translated material on the new quarantine rules for travels are available to be accessed here.
- Translated material in Arabic in one place – Migration Yorkshire have put together a translated material page which collates all the materials into one place. The first page in Arabic. Click here to access.
- Council of Mosques videos about staying safe and following guidelines produced in Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic and Bengali.
Public Health England has produced translated guidance about access to COVID-19 testing and that treatment is free of charge, irrespective of immigration status in 40 languages (including English). Please visit the PHE Migrant Health Guide under sub-heading ‘Translated advice and guidance for the public’ to access the full set of languages. These translations are based on the simplified message in English available on the NHS website. Public Health England have also produced translated campaign posters on COVID-19 ‘Stay alert to stay safe’ posters – These have been translated into Bengali, Indian-Punjabi, Pakistani-Punjabi, Polish, Slovak, Somali and Urdu covering hand washing, limiting contact, keeping a safe distance, self-isolation and working from home. Click here to access these posters.
Government Covid-19 guidance. Currently available in: Arabic, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bengali, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Urdu, Gujerati and Welsh
Leeds City Council have videos in 11 different languages (Polish, Romanian, Urdu, Arabic, Czech, Punjabi, Tigrinya, Farsi, Slovak, Kurdish Sorani and Bengali). There are three different videos which focus on:
- Spot the signs – This short film contains information to help people spot the signs of coronavirus and gives advice for households with possible coronavirus infection.
- Handwashing advice This short film contains information about how you can help stop the spread of viruses, like coronavirus, by practising good respiratory and hand hygiene.
- Essential advice – This short film contains information for households with possible coronavirus infection. Please be aware that this is an evolving situation and public advice may change.
Other
Doctors of the World have leaflets on keeping young people healthy in 10 languages. These include The NHS, Love, Sex and You, Mental Health and Sleep and Healthy Living.
The British Red Cross have produced some tips for staying connected and an Emergency Contact Card where people can write the name of the person they would wish to be contacted should they become seriously ill. This may be next of kin, a family member or friend. The Emergency Contact Card is to be completed in English so that emergency services can easily contact the person’s designated person. The accompanying language guides explain this and tips for people not confident in speaking/writing English.
Guidance on social distancing for vulnerable people
UK Government Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp
The new GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service is a free automated ‘chatbot’ service which will allow the British public to get accurate answers to the most common questions about coronavirus direct from government.
To use the free GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word ‘hi’ in a WhatsApp message to get started.
Keeping to the facts
There is a lot of unhelpful and confusing messages on social media and it is important to know the facts to counteract what can be dangerous messaging.
Full Fact has a regularly updated page which busts some of the unhelpful myths circulating.
The Ferret in Scotland also has a good page regularly factchecking misinformation about Covid-19
Information is Beautiful have infographics on the Covid-19 global pandemic as well as a helpful page on Coronavirus Myths and Misconceptions