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Advice about staying at home (self-isolation) and treatment for you and anyone you live with.
When to self-isolate and what to do
What is self-isolation?
Self-isolation is when you stay at home because you have or might have coronavirus (COVID-19).
This helps stop the virus spreading to other people.
Information:Self-isolation is different to:
social distancing – general advice for everyone to avoid close contact with other people
shielding – advice for people at high risk from coronavirus
When to self-isolate
Self-isolate if:
you have any symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
you've tested positive for coronavirus – this means you have coronavirus
you live with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive
someone in your support bubble has symptoms or has tested positive
you're told by NHS Test and Trace that you've been in contact with a person with coronavirus
What is a support bubble?Information:For information about self-isolating when you come to the UK, see GOV.UK: how to self-isolate when you travel to the UK.How to self-isolate
You must not leave your home if you're self-isolating.
Don't
do not go to work, school or public places – work from home if you can
do not go on public transport or use taxis
do not go out to get food and medicine – order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to your home
do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care
do not go out to exercise – exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one
Information:Find out how to avoid spreading coronavirus to people you live with.Get a test if you have symptoms
If you have symptoms, get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible.
The test needs to be done in the first 5 days of having symptoms.
Get a test to check if you have coronavirusTell people you've been in close contact with that you have symptoms
You may want to tell people you've been in close contact with in the past 48 hours that you might have coronavirus.
What does close contact mean?They do not need to self-isolate unless they're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service. But they should take extra care to follow social distancing advice, including washing their hands often.
If they get any coronavirus symptoms, they must self-isolate and get a coronavirus test as soon as possible.How long to self-isolate
If you have symptoms or have tested positive for coronavirus, you'll usually need to self-isolate for at least 7 days.
You'll usually need to self-isolate for 14 days if:
someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive
someone in your support bubble has symptoms or tested positive
you've been told by NHS Test and Trace that you've been in contact with someone who has coronavirus
Read more about how long to self-isolate.Get an isolation note for your employer if you're unable to work
If you need to self-isolate, you can get an isolation note to send to your employer as proof you need to be off work.
You do not need to get a note from a GP.
Get an isolation note
Information:Read more about the guidance and support for employees during coronavirus on GOV.UK.More in Self-isolation and treating coronavirus symptoms
How long to self-isolate
How long you need to self-isolate depends on if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) or you've been in close contact with someone who does.If you have symptoms or tested positiveIf you live with someone who has symptoms or tested positiveIf you’ve been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and TraceInformation:If you have symptoms and have not had a test, stay at home and get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible.More in Self-isolation and treating coronavirus symptoms
How to avoid spreading coronavirus to people you live with
If you are self-isolating because of coronavirus, there are things you can do to reduce the chances of spreading any infection to the people you live with.Try to stay away from people you live with
If you have symptoms, you should stay away from other people you live with as much as possible.
If you can:
stay on your own in one room as much as possible and keep the door closed
avoid using shared spaces (such as the kitchen) at the same time as other people – eat your meals in your room
use a separate bathroom - otherwise, use the bathroom after everyone else and clean it each time you use it, for example, by wiping the surfaces you've touched
How to reduce the spread of infection in your home
Do
wash your hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds
use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
clean objects and surfaces you touch often (such as door handles, kettles and phones) using your regular cleaning products
consider wearing a face covering when in shared spaces
keep windows open in the room you're staying in and shared spaces as much as possible
Don't
do not share towels, including hand towels and tea towels
If you live with someone at higher risk from coronavirus
It's especially important to try to avoid spreading the infection to anyone who's at higher risk from coronavirus (such as people who are 70 or over, pregnant or have a weakened immune system).
If you live with someone at higher risk, try to arrange for them to stay with friends or family while you're self-isolating.
If you have to stay at home together, try to keep 2 metres (3 steps) away from each other. If possible, try not to share a bed.Information:More information about self-isolation
Read the full guidance about self-isolation on GOV.UK.More in Self-isolation and treating coronavirus symptoms
How to treat coronavirus symptoms at home
There is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19), but you can often ease the symptoms at home until you recover.
Information:If you're concerned about your symptoms and need medical advice, use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service.Treating a high temperature
If you have a high temperature, it can help to:
get lots of rest
drink plenty of fluids (water is best) to avoid dehydration – drink enough so your pee is light yellow and clear
take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable
Is it safe to take ibuprofen if I have symptoms of coronavirus?Treating a cough
If you have a cough, it's best to avoid lying on your back. Lie on your side or sit upright instead.
To help ease a cough, try having a teaspoon of honey. But do not give honey to babies under 12 months.
If this does not help, you could contact a pharmacist for advice about cough treatments.
Information:Do not go to a pharmacy in person. If you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms, you must all stay at home.
Try calling or contacting the pharmacy online instead.Things to try if you're feeling breathless
If you're feeling breathless, it can help to keep your room cool.
Try turning the heating down or opening a window. Do not use a fan as it may spread the virus.
You could also try:
breathing slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, with your lips together like you're gently blowing out a candle
sitting upright in a chair
relaxing your shoulders, so you're not hunched
leaning forward slightly – support yourself by putting your hands on your knees or on something stable like a chair
Try not to panic if you're feeling breathless. This can make it worse.
Important
Feeling breathless can be a sign of a more serious coronavirus infection.
If you feel breathless and it's getting worse, get medical advice from the NHS 111 online coronavirus service.
Tips For Breathlessness
Media last reviewed: 2 June 2020
Media review due: 2 June 2023 More in Self-isolation and treating coronavirus symptoms
What to do if coronavirus symptoms get worse
It's important to get medical help if your symptoms get worse.Urgent advice:Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
you feel breathless and it's getting worse
your symptoms get worse and you're not sure what to do
Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.Babies and children
Call 111 if you're worried about a baby or child.
If they seem very unwell, are getting worse, or you think there's something seriously wrong, call 999.
Do not delay getting help if you're worried. Trust your instincts.
Get more advice about coronavirus in children.Immediate action required:Call 999 for an ambulance if you or someone you care for:
are struggling to breathe
are coughing up blood
have blue lips or a blue face
feel cold and sweaty, with pale or blotchy skin
have a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it
collapse or faint
become confused or very drowsy
have stopped peeing or are peeing much less than usual
Tell the operator you might have coronavirus symptoms. What to do if you get coronavirus symptoms again
You must stay at home (self-isolate) again and ask for a test if you get symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) more than once.
The symptoms are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
You must also self-isolate again if someone you live with (or someone in your support bubble) gets symptoms again.
What is a support bubble?You must self-isolate again even if you've had a positive test result for coronavirus before. You probably have some immunity to coronavirus but it's not clear how long it will last.
You must not leave your home if you're self-isolating.
Anyone with symptoms must self-isolate for at least 7 days from when their symptoms started.
Anyone who does not have symptoms must self-isolate for 14 days from when the first person started having symptoms. This is because it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear.
Information:Read more about when to self-isolate and what to do.More in Self-isolation and treating coronavirus symptoms
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