• Charity No. 19928 Phone No. 0818 900 800

  • COVID-19 Information

    It is important that we all get our advice and information from reputable sources, particularly the HSE and Department of Health. IMSA has collated the following information from the HSE for ease of reading.

    You and your shed

    While the coronavirus outbreak means that sheds are temporarily closed, that does not mean you should stop talking to shedders.

    Here are some practical ways that you can continue to connect with one another while respecting physical distancing:

    1. Set up a WhatsApp or group text – If you need help with this, contact our office on 01 891 6150 or email info@menssheds.ie
    2. Check in through phone or email with IMSA – We are here to provide advice and support. We will continue to operate as normal in answering your queries by phone and email.
    3. Operate a ‘buddy system’ – We suggest ensuring that everyone in your shed ‘buddies up’ with another member and stay in contact. This will help to ensure that members, particularly those that are living alone, are not isolated during this difficult time.

    What are the symptoms?

    The most common symptoms of coronavirus include:

    • A cough, this can be any kind of cough
    • Shortness of breath
    • Breathing difficulties
    • Fever/high temperature

    If you have any of these symptoms, you should behave as if you have the virus and self-isolate for 14 days.  People in your household will also need to restrict their movements.

    What is cocooning?

    How to cocoon

    Do

    • Stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact for 2 weeks from 27 March.

    • If you have a garden or balcony, spend time outside for fresh air.

    • Keep in touch with family and friends over the phone or online if you have access.

    • Keep yourself mobile by getting up and moving as much as possible.

    • Ask neighbours, family or friends to get any shopping or medicine you need – do not go out shopping.

    • Arrange for food or medicine deliveries to be left outside your door.

    • Use the phone if you need to contact your GP or other services – do not leave your house.

    Don’t

    • Do not go outside your home and garden.

    • Do not have visitors to your home, except for essential carers.

    • Do not attend any gatherings, including gatherings with family and friends anywhere.

    How can I protect myself and others from getting coronavirus?

    There are a number of things we can do to protect ourselves and others, particularly by practising good hygiene.

    Stay at home

    You are advised to stay at home to help slow the
    spread of the coronavirus. There are only a few exceptions
    to leaving your home:
    • Shop for essential food and household goods
    • Attend medical appointments, collect medicine or other health products
    • Care for children, older people or other vulnerable people – social family visits are prohibited.
    • Exercise briefly by yourself, or with children from your family and only within 2km of your home. You can travel beyond 2km if shopping for essential food and household goods.
    • Travel to work, if you provide an essential service.

    There is also further advice on

    Social (physical) Distancing

    Social distancing is important to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

    It does this by minimising contact between potentially infected

    individuals and healthy individuals.

    The HSE recommends that you

      • Keep a space of 2 metres (6.5ft) between you and otherZ.
      • Avoid communal sleeping areas.
      • Avoid any crowded places.
      • Not shake hands or have close physical contact with other people, if possible.

    Hand hygiene

    Practice the following advice as strictly as possible

    and encourage others to follow this advice too.

    DO

    DON’T

    • Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
    • Do not share objects that touch your mouth – for example, bottles or cups.

     Wash your hands properly and often

    You should always wash your hands:

    • after coughing or sneezing
    • before and after eating
    • before and after preparing food
    • if you were in contact with someone who has a fever or respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing)
    • before and after being on public transport if you must use it
    • before and after being in a crowd (especially an indoor crowd)
    • when you arrive and leave buildings including your home or anyone else’s home
    • if you have handled animals or animal waste
    • before having a cigarette or vaping
    • if your hands are dirty
    • after toilet use

    Keep your hands in good condition, moisturise them often. Any basic product that is not perfumed or coloured is OK.

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