Self-isolation helps stop Covid-19 spreading
Do not leave your home if you have symptoms of Covid-19, or live with someone who does.
This is called self-isolation.
If you are self-isolating you must:
- Not leave your home for any reason other than exercise once a day – but stay at least two metres (three steps) away from other people.
- Not go out to buy food or collect medicine – order them by phone or online, or ask someone else to drop them off at your home.
- Not have visitors, such as friends and family in your home.
You can use your garden if you have one.
If you are not sure you need to self-isolate:
If you have symptoms of Covid-19 (a high temperature or a new continuous cough) use the 111 Covid-19 service to find out what to do.
How long to self-isolate:
If you have symptoms of Covid-19, you’ll need to self-isolate for 7 days.
After 7 days:
- If you do not have a high temperature, you do not need to self-isolate.
- If you still have a high temperature, keep self-isolating until your temperature returns to normal.
You do not need to self-isolate if you just have a cough after 7 days.
A cough can last for several weeks after the infection has gone.
Get an isolation note for your employer at: https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/
If you live with someone who has symptoms, you’ll need to self-isolate for 14 days from the day their symptoms started. This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear.
If more than 1 person at home has symptoms, self-isolate for 14 days from the day the first person started having symptoms.
If you get symptoms, self-isolate for 7 days from where your symptoms start, even if it means you’re self-isolating for longer than 14 days.
If you do not get symptoms, you can stop self-isolating after 14 days.
Get an isolation note for your employer at: https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/
After self-isolation
You still need to stay at home when you’ve finished self-isolating, but you can go out for essential trips such as buying food.