COVID-19 coronavirus: how to self-isolate

Under COVID-19 restrictions across the UK, there are only limited circumstances in which we can go out into the community, such as shopping for essentials, exercise and to seek medical care. We are all being urged to stay at home as much as possible to minimise the spread of the virus.

However, if you develop symptoms of fever, lose your sense of smell or taste or develop a new, continuous cough, or you test positive for COVID-19, you should self-isolate and not leave your house for any reason, unless you are told to by NHS 111 or the emergency services. The same applies if you've been in close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

What to do if you're asked to self-isolate

You should self-isolate for ten days if you develop any symptoms of fever or a new cough, however mild, or if you test positive for COVID-19. If you live in a household with other people, everyone else must also isolate for ten days. Anyone who develops symptoms must isolate for ten days from the start of their symptoms, even if it means isolating for more than ten days in total. If you are told to self-isolate, you must:

Do not share utensils, bed linen, towels or other household items with others whilst isolating.

Any groceries or food which need to be delivered should be left outside your door to prevent face-to-face contact.

If you live with other people

If someone in your household develops symptoms, you must all self-isolate. To minimise the risk of passing it on to other people (especially older people, those with underlying health conditions and pregnant women) you should take precautions to keep away from them. If possible, people in these risk groups should find somewhere else to stay and isolate for fourteen days.

Bathroom

If you can, use a separate bathroom to everyone else. If you are sharing a bathroom, you should:

Kitchen

If you share a kitchen:

Other people in your household should regularly and thoroughly wash their hands, avoid touching their faces and clean frequently touched surfaces. You can use your usual household products like detergents and bleach.

Tissues, disposable cleaning cloths, wipes and other personal waste should be stored in disposable rubbish bags, placed inside another bag and kept separate. You can put them in your normal outside bin after three days.

Any dirty laundry can be washed alongside other people's items. However, if you don't have your own washing machine, wait until three days after your isolation period ends to take them to a laundrette.

If you are pregnant or currently breastfeeding, you can take a look at the guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

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Long COVID

Most people with COVID-19 infection (SARS CoV-2 infection) feel better within a few days or weeks and recover completely within 12 weeks of the infection. However, some people have ongoing symptoms that remain for weeks, months, or longer, which is usually called "long COVID". For some, these long-term effects of COVID-19 can be debilitating. These effects can be very different from person to person, and it seems likely that there are different 'types' of long COVID, or different syndromes, which might behave in different ways.

by Dr Doug McKechnie, MRCGP

When to seek medical attention

If your illness is worsening, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If it's not an emergency, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, call 111.

If there is an emergency and you need an ambulance, call 999 and tell the call handler that you have coronavirus.

Any routine medical or dental appointments which you had previously booked should normally be cancelled whilst you are sick and at home. If you are asked to attend whilst isolating or you have concerns, call the practice or hospital first.

Ending isolation

You should stay at home until ten days after your symptoms started or ten days after someone in your household started experiencing symptoms. If after the isolation period you feel better and no longer have a high temperature, you can return to normal life under the rules issued to the rest of the population. Your cough may continue for several weeks but as long as you no longer have a fever, you can end isolation after ten days.

If you feel no better or you start feeling worse, contact NHS 111 online or call 111.

Planning for isolation

Now that everyone has to stay at home as much as possible, you should limit trips to the shops to get food and other essentials as much as possible. It's a good idea to plan ahead and think about the things that you will reasonably need to stay at home for ten days. This does not mean that you should 'panic buy' food and supplies.

However, you should make sure that you have a way to get medications and groceries to you during your time in isolation, whether that means someone delivering them to you or ordering them online.

If you will be working from home, make sure to make arrangements to be able to do so. You should also plan entertainment and ways to communicate with other people for the time you'll spend in isolation.

Public Health England has created further guidance on how to self-isolate on its website.

Help from NHS volunteers

Many people who have to stay home for their own protection can now access help from the NHS volunteer responders who have signed up to help. The services they can offer include:

People who are eligible for help include:

If you think you may be eligible, you can call 0808 196 3646 to arrange support for yourself or someone you know.