Are you worried about COVID-19 restrictions easing?

Updated: May 2022

Many Coronavirus restrictions have been lifted across the UK.

You can find the latest guidance for people at higher risk from COVID-19 at the following government websites:

• England
• Wales
• Scotland
• Northern Ireland.

We’ll be reviewing and updatingour COVID-19 contentandvaccine informationas the situation evolves across the UK.

Ouronline communityis also a place where you can share any questions with other people living with arthritis.

We are here for you with the latest updates around coronavirus.

Follow these links for information:

• Get the latest answers toyour questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, who can have them and they work.
• Find out more aboutpreparing for surgery during COVID-19. This includes what to expect and what you can do to minimise the risks of COVID-19, if you’re having surgery. Learn more about ways tomanage your pain while waiting for surgery.

Getting out and about

Whatever you choose to do, make sure that you feel comfortable with your own decisions - that you don’t feel pressured into doing anything you’re uncomfortable with.

Here’s a few things to consider to help minimise the risks:

• Keep up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses.
• Keep practising the basics of good hygiene.
• Meet outdoors if you can, or try to increase ventilation if meeting indoors.
• Continue to wear a face mask, especially in crowded indoor settings.

If you’ve been told that you’re eligible for the new antibody or antiviral treatments for COVID-19, you can still get free lateral flow tests (LFTs) to keep at home so that you can test straight away if you do develop symptoms of COVID-19.

Be open and honest

记住,这是由你来决定你的感觉omfortable doing and when, and how often you do it.

Talking and saying what you feel, what you are finding difficult and what support you need, to the people you trust, can help. This could be face to face or written down.

Keep connected

It’s important to keep in touch with your friends, family and community whether that’s via phone, online or face to face.

Try to find a balance between taking sensible precautions and being able to enjoy the things in life that are important to you, such as catching up with a friend or going for a walk.

Regular exercise

Doing just a small amount of regular exercise can make a big difference to both your physical and mental health and well-being. It can boost your mood and help you relax.

Making exercise a part of your everyday is a useful way to give structure to your day. Check out oursimple exercises to help flexibility and ease pain.

Sharing experiences of your physical activity journey can be a brilliant motivator too. If you're on Facebook why not join ourLet's Move Facebook group?

Getting rest

We know that getting agood night’s sleepcan be tricky when you live with pain and lack of sleep can lower the body’s ability to cope with pain. Read more about ways tomanage your pain at home.

If you’re finding it harder to get quality sleep at the moment, try somesimple breathing techniques or a yoga class.

Choose to do things that soothe you, this might include listening to relaxing music, watching your favourite TV programme or making a cup of tea. As small as it sounds, doing comforting things reduces your stress levels.

Expert wellbeing organisations

If you need further support, the mental health charity,Mindhas specific information onmanaging feelings about lockdown easing.

We’re here whenever you need us

• If you need advice or support, you can call our freehelplineon 0800 5200 520
• Chat to ourArthritis Virtual Assistant
• Join ouronline community
• Stay in touch and follow us onTwitter,FacebookandInstagram.