### What you need to know
The UK recorded its first confirmed case of acute respiratory infection due to coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) on 31 January 2020 and initially responded by quarantining at-risk individuals to contain the spread of infection. However, when covid-19 cases increased and containment was no longer effective, the UK moved to a delay phase of the response on 12 March 2020. Executive agencies Public Health England (PHE),1 Health Protection Scotland (HPS), and NHS England have since published updated guidance for healthcare providers on managing patients suspected to have covid-19. Guidance for the public and health professionals varies internationally, depending partly on risk levels and healthcare systems, and is being regularly updated.
This article offers a practical guide for GPs and others working in UK primary care on when to suspect covid-19 and how to respond. It is based on current …
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