what to do if a family member is waiting for covid test results

ane. What has inverse

The self-isolation communication for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed. Information technology is now possible to stop cocky-isolation subsequently 5 total days if you have 2 negative LFD tests taken on consecutive days. The start LFD test should non exist taken before the fifth twenty-four hours after your symptoms started (or the mean solar day your test was taken if you did not have symptoms). The self-isolation catamenia remains x full days for those without negative results from 2 LFD tests taken a day apart.

2. Who this guidance is for

This guidance is for:

people with symptoms that may be caused past COVID-19, including those who are waiting for a COVID-19 test effect
people who accept received a positive COVID-19 LFD or PCR test outcome (whether or not they take symptoms)
people who currently live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 symptoms, or with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 by LFD or PCR test

In this guidance a household means:

one person living alone
a group of people (who may or may non be related) living at the same address and who share cooking facilities, bathrooms or toilets, or living areas – this may include students in boarding schools or halls of residence who share such facilities
a group of people who share a nomadic fashion of life for example those who live on Traveller sites, in vehicles or on culvert boats

Follow separate guidance if you have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 just practice non currently alive in the aforementioned household equally them.

If you accept arrived in England from overseas yous may also demand to self-isolate, simply should follow split up guidance on travelling to England from another country during COVID-19.

This guidance applies in England.

3. Symptoms

The primary symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of whatsoever of the following:

a new continuous cough
a high temperature
a loss of, or modify in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For almost people, COVID-19 will be a balmy illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms listed above, fifty-fifty if your symptoms are mild, stay at home and arrange to have a test. You lot do non need to take a PCR test if you have already taken an LFD test and the result was positive.

There are several other symptoms linked with COVID-nineteen. These symptoms may have another crusade and are non on their own a reason to have a COVID-19 PCR exam. If you are concerned virtually your symptoms, seek medical communication.

If you have received i or more than doses of COVID-19 vaccine and have whatsoever of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or accept received a positive LFD or PCR test consequence, yous should withal follow this guidance. This is because it is still possible to get COVID-xix and spread information technology to others, even if you lot are vaccinated.

iv. Tests for COVID-xix

At that place are 2 principal types of test currently being used to detect if someone has COVID-19:

polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests
lateral menses device (LFD) antigen tests – also known as rapid lateral flow tests

four.1 PCR tests

PCR tests find the RNA (ribonucleic acrid, the genetic cloth) of a virus. Information technology takes some time to become the results because PCR tests are commonly processed in a laboratory.

PCR tests are the best style to diagnose COVID-xix infection in people who take symptoms and who also may require treatment. If you have whatever of the main symptoms of COVID-xix, yous should arrange to have a PCR examination.

4.2 LFD tests

LFD tests notice proteins in the coronavirus and piece of work in a like fashion to a pregnancy test. They are reliable, simple and quick to use and are very skilful at identifying people who accept high levels of coronavirus and are nearly likely to pass on infection to others. When rates of infection are high, it is very likely that people with a positive LFD test upshot have COVID-19.

LFD tests tin be taken by people at home (self-reported tests) or under the supervision of a trained operator who processes the examination, reads, and reports the result (assisted tests). LFD tests are mainly used in people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19. If you take an LFD test and the result is positive, you should written report the outcome and follow this guidance.

You practise not demand to take a follow-upwards PCR test, unless:

you wish to merits the Test and Trace Back up Payment – to merits the Test and Trace Support Payment, you must have tested positive for COVID-19 following a PCR test or an assisted LFD test
you take received an electronic mail or alphabetic character from the NHS because of a health condition that means you may be suitable for new COVID-19 treatments – if this applies to you and you develop whatever COVID-nineteen symptoms, you should utilize the PCR test kit that was sent to you in the post for this purpose; if you lot have non received a PCR examination kit you lot can arrange to have a PCR examination
you are taking LFD tests as part of enquiry or surveillance programmes, and the programme asks you to have a follow-up PCR test
you take a positive day 2 LFD test effect after you go far in England

If your LFD test event is positive you may proceed to develop symptoms in the adjacent few days. If you develop any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 and you are concerned, or your symptoms are worsening, contact 111 or speak to your GP. In an emergency dial 999.

v. If y'all accept COVID-19 symptoms or a positive LFD or PCR test result

If you develop whatsoever of the chief symptoms of COVID-19, stay at domicile and self-isolate immediately.

If y'all have a positive LFD or PCR test result simply exercise non have any of the primary symptoms of COVID-19, stay at dwelling house and self-isolate equally shortly as you receive the results. You should do this even if you lot have received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Other people in your household might need to self-isolate also. Please see section below for information on what the other members of your household demand to do.

v.one Order a PCR test if you lot have whatsoever of the principal symptoms of COVID-19

If y'all have any of the main symptoms of COVID-xix, arrange to take a PCR test by ordering it online or by calling 119. Y'all do not demand to accept a PCR examination if you have already taken an LFD test and the result was positive.

You should stay at home while yous are waiting for a home test kit, a examination site engagement or a test event. You lot can go out your home in a few specific circumstances, but practise not go to work, schoolhouse, or public areas and do not use public send or taxis. See the circumstances in which you tin can leave habitation.

If y'all need to leave your habitation to become to a test site, article of clothing a well-fitting face covering fabricated with multiple layers, stay at least two metres apart from other people who you lot practice not live with, and return domicile immediately later.

five.2 Stay at home and self-isolate

Stay at dwelling house and cocky-isolate if you have whatsoever of the main symptoms of COVID-xix or if yous have a positive LFD or PCR examination result. Self-isolation volition help protect your family, friends and the wider community by reducing the risk that y'all will pass the infection on to others.

Your self-isolation period starts immediately from when your symptoms started, or, if yous do non accept any symptoms, from when your positive LFD or PCR test was taken, whichever test was taken first. Your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do non have symptoms), and the next 10 total days. It may be possible to end your self-isolation before (see below).

This means that if, for example, your symptoms started at any time on the 15th of the month (or if you did non have symptoms but your first positive COVID-19 test was taken on the 15th), your self-isolation period ends at 23:59hrs on the 25th of the month.

Y'all tin return to your normal routine and stop self-isolating afterward 10 full days if your symptoms have gone, or if the only symptoms yous have are a coughing or anosmia, which can last for several weeks. If y'all notwithstanding take a high temperature after 10 days or are otherwise unwell, stay at home and seek medical advice.

Yous may exist able to terminate your self-isolation flow before the end of the ten full days. You can take an LFD test from 5 days after the twenty-four hours your symptoms started (or the 24-hour interval your test was taken if you did not accept symptoms), and some other LFD test on the post-obit day. If both these test results are negative, and you exercise not accept a high temperature, y'all may end your cocky-isolation after the second negative test effect.

Report your LFD exam results after taking each test.

You should not take an LFD exam before the fifth twenty-four hour period of your cocky-isolation period, and you should only end your self-isolation after yous have had ii negative LFD tests taken on consecutive days. You lot should stop testing after yous have had 2 consecutive negative examination results.

This guidance also applies to children and young people who unremarkably attend an educational activity or childcare setting.

Y'all volition be unable to use either your domestic or travel NHS COVID Pass for ten days following a positive test outcome.

Examples of when to terminate self-isolation if you have had COVID-19 symptoms or take received a positive COVID-19 exam outcome

This means that if, for example, your symptoms started at whatsoever time on the 15th of the month (or if you did not have symptoms but your first positive COVID-nineteen exam was taken on the 15th), you lot may accept daily LFD tests from the 20th of the month. If your LFD test results are negative on the 20th and 21st, and y'all do not have a loftier temperature, you may terminate your self-isolation period afterwards the negative test result on the 21st of the month.

If both your LFD test results are negative, it is likely that y'all were non infectious at the time the tests were taken. To further reduce the adventure of passing COVID-19 on to others, if yous end your cocky-isolation menses earlier 10 full days you are strongly advised to:

limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
piece of work from home if you lot are able to
wear a face roofing in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and where you are in shut contact with other people
limit contact with anyone who is at college risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19
follow the guidance on how to stay safe and assistance prevent the spread of COVID-19

You should follow this advice until 10 full days from when your self-isolation menses started.

You practice non need to take any more LFD tests afterwards the tenth solar day of your self-isolation flow and you may stop cocky-isolating after this solar day. This is because you are unlikely to exist infectious later the 10th day of your cocky-isolation period. Even if you lot accept a positive LFD test upshot on the tenth day of your self-isolation period you practice not demand to have any more LFD tests subsequently this day and you do non demand a follow-up PCR test. If you are concerned you may choose to limit close contact with other people, especially those who are at higher risk of astringent illness until fourteen days after the start of your self-isolation period.

There is boosted guidance for those working in health and social care settings.

If you are self-isolating considering of a positive exam issue but did not take any symptoms, and you develop COVID-19 symptoms inside your self-isolation period, yous practise not need to start a new cocky-isolation period.

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms at any indicate later on ending your first period of self-isolation you and your household should follow the steps in this guidance once again.

Most people with COVID-xix will experience a mild affliction. Seek prompt medical attention if your illness or the illness of someone in your household is worsening.

Stay every bit far abroad from other members of your household every bit possible. Wherever possible, avoid using shared spaces such every bit kitchens and other living areas while others are nowadays and accept your meals back to your room to eat. Vesture a face roofing or a surgical mask when spending time in shared areas within your home.

Accept exercise within your dwelling house, garden or private outdoor space. Follow the general communication to reduce the spread of the infection inside your household.

It may be difficult for some people to separate themselves from others in their household. Not all these measures will be possible if you are living with children or accept caring responsibilities, just follow this guidance to the all-time of your power in these circumstances.

If you receive a request by text, email or phone to log into the NHS Examination and Trace service website y'all should practise this. You lot will be asked virtually when your symptoms started. Y'all should provide this information because it will be used to place who has been in contact with yous while you have been infectious.

You lot will be asked well-nigh your recent contacts so that they can exist given public wellness advice. They will not be told your identity. It is very of import that you provide this information, as it volition play a vital role in helping to protect your family, friends and the wider customs.

5.3 Visitors to your household

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, or a positive LFD or PCR exam upshot, practice not invite or allow social visitors to enter your home, including friends and family. If y'all want to speak to someone who is not a member of your household, apply the phone, email or social media.

If you or a family member receive essential care in your home, carers should go along to visit and follow the provision of habitation intendance guidance to reduce the risk of infection.

All not-essential in-house services and repairs should exist postponed until the cocky-isolation period is completed. Commitment drivers should non come into your dwelling house, so make sure you lot ask them to exit items outside for collection.

5.iv If you lot have a negative COVID-19 PCR test outcome after being tested because you had symptoms of COVID-19

If your PCR test result is negative but yous still have symptoms, you may have another viral illness such equally a common cold, flu or a breadbasket bug. You should stay at abode until you lot feel well and for at to the lowest degree 2 more than days if you have had diarrhoea or vomiting. Seek medical attending if yous are concerned about your symptoms.

You tin can cease self-isolating unless you accept been advised past NHS Test and Trace that you are legally required to self-isolate. Anyone in your household who is cocky-isolating because of your symptoms can also stop self-isolating.

5.5 If you have a negative follow-up PCR test consequence after a positive LFD test result

LFD tests are mainly used in people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19. If yous take an LFD test and the result is positive, you do not need to take a follow-up PCR exam, unless you take been advised to for specific reasons.

If yous do take a follow-upwardly PCR test for one of these reasons and the effect is negative, yous are no longer required to self-isolate. While infection rates are loftier at that place is still a chance you are infectious, and you are advised to:

limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
piece of work from home if you are able to
wear a confront roofing in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and where you are in close contact with other people
limit contact with anyone who is at higher chance of severe illness if infected with COVID-19
follow the guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19

You should follow this advice until x full days from your positive LFD test event.

If you develop any of the main symptoms of COVID-nineteen yous should self-isolate and follow this guidance once more.

5.half-dozen Testing after your self-isolation period has ended

If y'all have previously had COVID-xix, you will probably have adult some immunity to the illness. However, information technology cannot be guaranteed that everyone volition develop amnesty, or how long it volition concluding. It is also possible for PCR tests to remain positive for some time later on the period of active COVID-19 infection.

If yous accept previously received a positive COVID-nineteen test consequence, yous are brash non to take another PCR examination within xc days of this result unless:

you develop whatsoever new master symptoms of COVID-nineteen
yous are required to take a PCR test for travel into or out of the UK
you are advised to take a follow-up PCR test later a positive LFD test

If you have a positive PCR test result within 90 days of a previous positive test effect you must stay at home, self-isolate and follow the steps in this guidance again.

If information technology is more than 90 days since you tested positive by PCR for COVID-19, and you lot have new symptoms of COVID-19, or a positive PCR test, follow the steps in this guidance again.

6. If you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19

Follow split up guidance if you take had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-nineteen but do not currently live in the same household as them.

Anyone who has whatsoever of the master symptoms of COVID-19 should stay at dwelling and, self-isolate immediately. They should guild a PCR test unless they have already taken an LFD examination and the result was positive.

If y'all do not take symptoms of COVID-19 and live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, you are legally required to self-isolate unless yous meet whatever of the post-obit conditions:

you are fully vaccinated – fully vaccinated means y'all have had 2 doses of an approved vaccine such every bit Pfizer BioNTech, AstraZeneca or Spikevax (formerly Moderna); you lot are also fully vaccinated if you have had ane dose of the single-dose Janssen vaccine
you are aged under 18 years
you have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
y'all are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

If yous run across any of these 4 conditions (and are therefore not legally required to self-isolate), follow the guidance further down for contacts who are not legally required to self-isolate.

If you are eighteen years old you volition be treated in the same way equally those nether eighteen upwardly until the historic period of 18 years and 6 months, to permit y'all fourth dimension to go fully vaccinated.

6.1 Household contacts who are required to self-isolate

If yous have been notified by NHS Examination and Trace because you alive in the same household equally someone with COVID-xix, and you are aged over eighteen years and not fully vaccinated, you lot are legally required to cocky-isolate. This does non employ if y'all accept taken function in or are currently part of an approved COVID-nineteen vaccine trial or y'all are non able to get vaccinated for medical reasons. Do not go to work, schoolhouse, or public areas and do not employ public transport or taxis.

Your self-isolation menstruum includes the day the first person in your household's symptoms started (or the mean solar day their examination was taken if they did not have symptoms) and the next ten full days. This means that if, for instance, your 10 day self-isolation period starts on the 15th of the month, your self-isolation catamenia ends at 23:59 hrs on the 25th and you tin return to your normal routine.

You may be entitled to a payment of £500 from your local authority under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. If you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate, you may too be entitled to this payment.

Failure to comply with self-isolation may issue in a fine, starting from £one,000. Parents or guardians are legally responsible for ensuring that anyone under xviii self-isolates if they test positive for COVID-nineteen and are contacted by NHS Examination and Trace and told to cocky-isolate.

6.1.1 Take a PCR test

You are brash to take a single PCR test as soon as possible while y'all are self-isolating. You should take this PCR exam considering y'all are at a higher gamble of beingness infected. The results of the PCR exam will help NHS Examination and Trace contact people who may have caught the virus from you and advise them on what to do.

If your PCR exam result during your self-isolation menstruation is negative, you must keep to self-isolate equally you could all the same get infectious and pass the infection on to others. Stay at home for the full 10 days to avoid putting others at run a risk.

If your PCR test result is positive, follow the advice for people with COVID-19 to stay at home. Y'all must beginning a new cocky-isolation catamenia, regardless of where y'all are in your original 10 24-hour interval self-isolation menstruum. This means that your total self-isolation period may be longer than 10 days.

If you lot have previously tested positive for COVID-19, yous will probably take developed some amnesty to the disease. Nevertheless, it cannot exist guaranteed that everyone volition develop immunity, or how long it will last. It is possible for PCR tests to remain positive for some fourth dimension subsequently COVID-xix infection.

If you have previously received a positive COVID-19 test result within the last 90 days and you are identified every bit a contact of someone with COVID-19 you should not have a PCR exam unless you develop any of the principal symptoms of COVID-nineteen.

6.1.2 If you develop symptoms while you are cocky-isolating every bit a contact

If you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 and you develop whatsoever of the principal symptoms of COVID-19 while y'all are cocky-isolating, you lot should adjust to have a COVID-nineteen PCR test. If your test result is positive, follow the advice for people with COVID-19 to stay at home. You must start a new self-isolation period. This begins when your symptoms started, regardless of where you are in your original 10 day self-isolation period. This means that your total self-isolation menstruum may be longer than 10 days.

If this PCR exam consequence is negative, you must continue to self-isolate as you could still become infectious and pass the infection on to others. Stay at home for the total 10 days to avoid putting others at risk.

If other household members develop symptoms during this menstruation, y'all practise non need to isolate for longer than 10 days.

6.ii Household contacts who are not required to self-isolate

If you lot live in the aforementioned household as someone with COVID-xix you are at significantly higher gamble of becoming infected yourself.

If you are fully vaccinated or anile under 18 years, and you live in the aforementioned household as someone with COVID-nineteen, y'all are not legally required to self-isolate. Y'all are also non legally required to self-isolate if yous have taken office in or are currently part of an canonical COVID-nineteen vaccine trial or y'all are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons.

COVID-19 vaccines reduce the chance of you condign severely sick if you take hold of COVID-19. If y'all are vaccinated against COVID-19 you may still catch it and pass it on to others, even if y'all do non have any symptoms.

LFD tests are very adept at identifying people who accept high levels of coronavirus and are nigh likely to pass on infection to others, even if you lot do not have symptoms. Y'all are therefore strongly brash to accept daily LFD tests during the period yous are at highest risk of condign infected yourself.

If you are aged 5 years and over and live in the same household every bit someone with COVID-19, and are not legally required to self-isolate, you are strongly advised to:

take an LFD test every 24-hour interval for 7 days, or until 10 days afterwards the household member who has COVID-19 started their self-isolation catamenia if this is earlier
take this daily LFD test earlier y'all go out your dwelling for the showtime time that day
report your LFD exam results after taking each exam – reporting positive LFD exam results means that NHS Test and Trace can go in touch with your contacts and advise them on what to exercise; reporting negative LFD test results helps u.s.a. understand more about the spread of COVID-19

If you lot accept an LFD test and the result is positive, you should immediately self-isolate to prevent you from passing the infection on to other people and follow the advice for people who accept COVID-nineteen. You do not need to take a follow-up PCR test unless you take been brash to for specific reasons.

If your daily LFD test result is negative, it is likely that y'all were not infectious at the time the test was taken. To further reduce the chance of passing COVID-19 on to others, you are strongly advised to:

limit close contact with other people outside your household, particularly in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
work from home if y'all are able to
wear a face covering in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and where you are in shut contact with other people
limit contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19
follow the guidance on how to stay safe and assistance prevent the spread of COVID-19

If y'all are unable to take a daily LFD exam then y'all are still strongly advised to follow this communication to reduce the gamble of passing COVID-19 on to others.

Follow this advice until the household member who has COVID-nineteen reaches the finish of their cocky-isolation menstruation.

If you lot are a wellness or social care worker who has been identified as a household contact and are exempt from cocky-isolation, there is additional guidance available that you should follow to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-nineteen in these settings.

Children and young people anile under 18 years who commonly attend an education or childcare setting and who have been identified equally a close contact should continue to attend the setting as normal.

Regular LFD tests are not recommended for children aged under 5. If they alive with someone who has COVID-nineteen they are not legally required to self-isolate simply you should limit their contact with anyone who is at higher take chances of severe illness if infected with COVID-nineteen and arrange for them to take a PCR examination as soon as possible.

If you lot develop symptoms at any time, even if these are mild, stay at home and self-isolate immediately, accommodate to take a COVID-19 PCR test and follow the guidance for people with COVID-19 symptoms.

7. Reducing the spread of COVID-19 in your household

vii.1 How COVID-19 is spread

COVID-nineteen spreads from person to person through small droplets, aerosols and through directly contact. Surfaces and belongings tin can likewise be contaminated with COVID-xix when people with the infection coughing or sneeze or touch them. The risk of spread is greatest when people are close to each other, peculiarly in poorly ventilated indoor spaces and when people spend a lot of time together in the same room.

Keeping your distance, washing your easily and good respiratory hygiene (using and disposing of tissues), cleaning surfaces and keeping indoor spaces well ventilated are the most important means to reduce the spread of COVID-xix.

People who have COVID-19 tin infect others from around 2 days before symptoms start, and for up to 10 days subsequently. They can pass the infection to others, even if they accept balmy symptoms or no symptoms at all, which is why they must stay at domicile.

People who live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 are at higher take chances of developing COVID-xix. They could spread the affliction to others fifty-fifty when feeling well.

7.2 How to limit close contact with others in the household if you lot accept COVID-nineteen

Spend as little time equally possible in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas. Avoid using shared spaces such equally kitchens and other living areas while others are present and have your meals dorsum to your room to eat. Detect strict social distancing.

Inquire the people you live with to aid past bringing your meals to your door, helping with cleaning and by giving you infinite.

Employ a separate bathroom from the residual of the household where possible. If a divide bathroom is not available, try and apply the facilities terminal, before cleaning the bathroom using your usual cleaning products. The bathroom should be cleaned regularly.

You should employ separate towels from other household members, both for drying yourself later on bathing or showering and for drying your hands. Keep your room well-ventilated by opening a window to the outside.

Apply a well-fitting face roofing made with multiple layers, or a surgical mask when spending fourth dimension in shared areas inside your home to minimise the risk of spread to others. Used correctly, they may help to protect others by reducing the manual of COVID-nineteen but they do not replace the need to limit your contact with other household members.

Post-obit expert clinical advice and the successful rollout of the COVID-nineteen vaccine program, people previously considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable are no longer being advised to shield. Some people are notwithstanding at higher risk of severe affliction if infected with COVID-19 and may have been advised by their health professional to consider taking boosted precautions. If someone in the household has been advised to have such precautions, such every bit maintaining distance from others, they should be supported to practice so.

7.3 Things y'all can practise to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in your household

GermDefence is a website that tin aid y'all identify ways to protect yourself and others in your household from COVID-19. It provides scientifically proven advice on reducing the risks from COVID-19 and other viruses in your home.

GermDefence is piece of cake to use and only takes 10 minutes to place actions and brand a plan on how to protect yourself. GermDefence is also available in a range of dissimilar languages.

Anybody should also have the following steps to reduce the spread of infection inside their household. Please as well refer to the accompanying illustrated guide to reducing household manual.

7.iii.ane Wash your hands

This is an important way to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 or passing information technology on to others. Wash your hands with lather and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser, peculiarly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your olfactory organ and before yous eat or handle food. Clean your hands often and avoid touching your face.

7.three.ii Cover coughs and sneezes

Embrace your mouth and nose with dispensable tissues when you cough or sneeze. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow, non into your hand.

Dispose of tissues into a rubbish bag and immediately launder your hands. If you have a carer, they should use disposable tissues to wipe away whatever mucus or phlegm after you have sneezed or coughed and then wash or sanitise their easily.

7.3.3 Clean your home to reduce spread of infection

Regularly clean oft touched surfaces, such as door handles and remote controls, and shared areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Utilise standard household cleaning products like detergents and bleach to clean your home as these are very effective at getting rid of the virus on surfaces. Clean shared bathrooms each time they are used, especially the surfaces you have touched, using your usual bath cleaning products.

Cleaning cloths and personal waste matter such equally used tissues and disposable face coverings should be stored in disposable rubbish numberless. These bags should exist placed into some other bag, tied deeply and put bated for at least 72 hours before being put in your usual external household waste material bin. Other household waste tin be disposed of as normal.

Use a dishwasher to clean and dry your crockery and cutlery. If this is not possible, launder them by paw using washing upward liquid and warm water and dry thoroughly using a separate tea towel.

seven.three.4 Laundry

To reduce the possibility of spreading the virus through the air, do not shake dirty laundry. Wash items in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. All dingy laundry can exist done in the same load. If you lot practise not have a washing automobile, await a further 72 hours after your self-isolation has ended when you can then accept the laundry to a public launderette.

Do not share towels, including mitt towels and tea towels.

7.3.v Ventilate indoor areas

If someone is self-isolating, keep a window slightly open in their room and keep the door closed to reduce the spread of contaminated air to other parts of the household. If the person that is self-isolating needs to utilise any shared space in the dwelling house, such every bit the kitchen or other living areas while others are present, continue these spaces well ventilated, for example past opening windows while the person who is self-isolating is in the shared space, and for a short menstruum after they have left.

Leave extractor fans (for instance in bathrooms) running for longer than usual with the door airtight subsequently use.

seven.iv Caring for pets

COVID-19 in the UK is spread between humans. There is limited evidence that some animals, including pets, can go infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) following close contact with infected humans.

Pet owners who have COVID-19 or who are self-isolating with symptoms should restrict contact with pets and launder their hands thoroughly before and afterward interacting with their pet.

eight. Looking after your health and wellbeing

8.i Looking subsequently your mental and physical wellbeing while staying at home

Staying at dwelling house and self-isolating for a prolonged period can be difficult, frustrating and lonely for some people and you or other household members may feel depression. It tin exist particularly challenging if you practise not accept much infinite or access to a garden.

Remember to have care of your mind as well every bit your body and get support if you demand it.

Every Heed Matters provides uncomplicated tips and advice to accept amend intendance of your mental health, including a COVID-19 hub with communication for those staying at home.

Many people find information technology helpful to remind themselves why what they are doing is and then important. Past staying at domicile, y'all are helping to protect your friends and family, other people in your customs and the NHS.

Things that you lot tin do to aid brand staying at habitation easier:

keep in touch with friends and family over the phone or through social media
remember that physical exercise tin can be good for your wellbeing. Expect for online classes or courses that can assist you have calorie-free exercise in your dwelling house
plan alee and think about what you will need to be able to stay at dwelling house for the full elapsing
ask your employer, friends and family unit for help to access the things you will demand while staying at home
call back virtually and plan how you can get food and other supplies, such as medication, that you volition need during this period
bank check if your neighbourhood or local community has a volunteer system that could help bring you lot supplies or provide other back up
enquire friends or family to drib off anything y'all need or order supplies online or by phone, making sure these are left outside your home for you to collect
call up about things you can do during your time at habitation such every bit cooking, reading, online learning and watching films
many people notice information technology helpful to plan out the full 10 days. You may too observe it helpful to plan in accelerate what yous will exercise if, for example, someone in your household were to experience much worse

If you need help for a mental health crunch, emergency or breakup, seek immediate communication and assessment. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, urgent mental health back up is available to adults and children around the clock. Find your local NHS helpline past searching for your postcode or habitation town in a new service finder.

8.2 If you lot demand medical advice

Wellness and intendance services remain open to assistance people with all health weather condition, including COVID-19. Virtually people with COVID-19 will feel a mild illness which can be managed at habitation. Find out more than about managing the symptoms of COVID-19 at home.

All routine medical and dental appointments should exist cancelled while you are staying at home. If y'all are concerned or have been asked to attend in person during this time, hash out this with your medical contact first (for example, your GP or dentist, local hospital or outpatient service).

Seek prompt medical attention if your illness or the illness of someone in your household is worsening. If information technology is non an emergency, contact the NHS 111 online COVID-nineteen service or NHS 111 for other health conditions. If you have no internet admission, telephone call NHS 111.

If it is a medical emergency and you demand to call an ambulance, dial 999. Inform the telephone call handler or operator that you or someone in your household has COVID-19 or symptoms if that is the case.

nine. Financial or other applied support

ix.1 Fiscal support

Self-isolation is one of the about of import things we can do to assistance finish the spread of the virus and protect our friends and family unit, our customs and the NHS. If you take symptoms of COVID-19, have received a positive test issue, or accept been told you are a contact with someone who has, self-isolation is the simply way to guarantee you lot won't pass COVID-nineteen to others. If yous are told to self-isolate, yous should do then straight away Find out what support you tin get if y'all're affected past COVID-19.

If you tin, ask friends, family or neighbours to go out and get food and other essentials for you lot. If you lot exercise not have others to aid you, there may be charities or customs groups who can assist in your area or your local shops, markets and wholesalers may offering a delivery service (by phone or by e-mail).

The NHS Volunteer Responders programme is still bachelor to help back up those who need it. Volunteers can collect and deliver shopping, medication and other essential supplies and tin can as well provide a regular friendly telephone phone call. Call 0808 196 3646 between 8am and 8pm, vii days a week to self-refer or visit NHS Volunteer Responders for further information. There may also exist other voluntary or community services in your local surface area that you can access for support.

If you are unable to work due to COVID-19, see guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions to find out about support available to y'all. You may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the NHS Test and Trace Back up Payment scheme if yous are required to stay at home and cocky-isolate. If you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to cocky-isolate, yous may also be entitled to this support payment. You tin can employ for the NHS Test and Trace Support Payment online or through the NHS COVID-19 app.

Yous will be eligible for this payment if you lot live in England and you lot accept had a positive assisted LFD or PCR test result, NHS Exam and Trace has told you to cocky-isolate, or the NHS COVID-xix app has advised you to self-isolate.

Yous volition also be required to meet all the following criteria:

you are employed or cocky-employed
you lot cannot piece of work from habitation and will lose income as a result
you lot are claiming at least 1 of the post-obit benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Working Revenue enhancement Credits
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit or Housing Benefit

Visit your local authority's website for more than information on the help and support that is available to yous.

9.ii Additional support for those who pb a nomadic mode of life

People who live on a traveller site, in a vehicle or on a culvert boat may require additional support.

Let your site manager or local Gypsy and Traveller liaison team know if you lot need further back up. If you are living on a river or canal, find out what communication is being offered by the organisation who manages the waterway you live on, as this varies for each one. Try to communicate past phone as much as possible to preclude spreading the virus to further contacts.

If you lack access to basic facilities such as water, sanitation and waste disposal to assistance with self-isolation, contact your local authorisation for assistance. They may be able to provide you with boosted facilities or make alternative stopping places bachelor.

The prevailing laws against unauthorised encampments or unauthorised development remain in place.

Waste matter should go along to be disposed of through authorised and legal ways. Guidance for local authorities on re-opening or keeping household waste product and recycling centres open up is available. If y'all demand further advice, contact your local authority.

If you lot are stopping or cruising in rural or isolated areas, take note of your location if you moor or pull upwardly, especially if you are feeling unwell. You tin also use the what3words app if there is a medical emergency and y'all need services to come to yous.

nine.3 If y'all are breastfeeding

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, accept tested positive or are living in a household with someone who has COVID-19, you may be concerned well-nigh the infection spreading to your baby if you are breastfeeding.

The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of the virus through breast milk or by being in close contact, however, this will be an individual conclusion. Talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP by telephone.

There is currently no evidence to propose that the COVID-19 virus tin can exist transmitted through chest milk. Nevertheless, COVID-19 infection can be passed on to a infant in the same fashion as it tin can to anyone in shut contact with you lot. The current evidence is that children with COVID-19 get much less astringent symptoms than adults. If you or a family unit member are feeding with formula or expressed milk, sterilise the equipment carefully earlier each use. You lot should non share bottles or a breast pump with someone else.

ix.4 People with learning disabilities, autism or serious mental illnesses

Not all these measures will be possible if you, or those you live with, have weather condition such as learning disabilities, autism or serious mental illnesses. Follow this guidance to the best of your ability, while keeping yourself and those close to you safe and well, ideally in line with any existing intendance plans.

An easy read version of this guidance is besides bachelor.

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Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection