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Isolation rules: What GPs and patients with symptoms must do – 18 June

Isolation rules for Covid-19

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19) are recent onset of:

  • new continuous cough and/or
  • high temperature

For most people, coronavirus (Covid-19) will be a mild illness.

Seven-day isolation and 14-day isolation

  • If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness, however mild, stay at home for seven days from when your symptoms started
  • If you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for seven days, but all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill
  • For anyone else in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for seven days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14-day isolation period
  • It is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
  • If you can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period
  • If you cannot move vulnerable people out of your home, stay away from them as much as possible

If you have coronavirus symptoms

  • do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
  • you do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home
  • testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home

Also:

  • wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser
  • if you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999

Source: Public Health England, Stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (Covid-19) infection [updated 23 March]