You will now be able to access coronavirus advice on your phone - even if you've run out of data

Major network providers across the UK are allowing customers to access coronavirus information without impacting on their data limits.

If you are an EE, O2, Three, or Vodafone customer, you can now access nhs.uk and 111.nhs.uk without incurring any data costs.

The move has come as verified and current information is necessary to ensure the spread of Covid-19 is slowed. The Department of Health and Social Care said that free access to online NHS services will be available for as long as Covid-19 was prevalent in the UK.

Everyone should have access to information

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, "In the face of the continued spread of coronavirus, it is vital everybody can access the latest verified public health advice on the NHS website when they need to - so everyone knows exactly what they should be doing to keep themselves and others safe.

"We have been clear this must be a national effort and so I'm delighted that mobile companies will be offering free data to browse NHS.uk.

"This will ensure everyone can access the guidance they need and avoid dangerous misinformation, without incurring data charges, and is an important contribution to the next stage of our plan to delay the spread of the virus."

Social media promoting NHS advice

Social media giants, Facebook, Twitter, and Google, are changing their search result settings to display NHS information at the top of search results linked to the outbreak, in an attempt to promote official guidance.

Marc Allera, chief executive of BT's consumer division, which owns EE, said, "Now more than ever, it's critical to provide access to up-to-date healthcare information about coronavirus so we're making sure all of our customers can access the NHS online without using any of the data in their plan, even if they've run out of data."