Social distancing, self-isolation and shielding

If you develop symptoms of coronavirus, you should self-isolate and order a test as soon as possible by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119.

You and members of your household and support bubble will need to self-isolate until your test results come back. 

If you have been identified as someone who is extremely vulnerable and develop symptoms you should seek clinical advice using the NHS 111 online coronavirus service or call NHS 111. Do this as soon as you get symptoms.

If you test positive for coronavirus, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days from the point at which you first developed symptoms. If after 10 days you still have symptoms, other than a cough or loss of taste and smell, you should continue to self-isolate. You do not need to continue to self-isolate if, after 10 days, you still have a cough or loss of taste and smell as these can last for several weeks after the infection has passed.

If you live with other people, all other household members must stay at home for 14 days from when you started having symptoms, unless they also develop symptoms of coronavirus. If they develop symptoms of coronavirus, then they should also book a test right away. If the results come back positive then they should isolate for 10 days from the start of their symptoms. After 10 days they will be able to return to normal, so long as they are feeling better. If their results come back negative then they must continue the isolation of 14 days with the rest of the household.

If you test positive for coronavirus, the NHS test and trace service will contact you by text message, email or phone call and ask you to share details of your recent interactions, including people you have recently had direct contact with.

You can find out more about how the track and trace service works here.

If your test comes back negative, then you are at low-risk of having coronavirus. Other members of your household and support bubble will no longer need to self-isolate and if you feel well you can also stop self-isolating. However, if you still feel unwell it is better to stay inside as you may have another virus, such as a cold or the flu, so you should try not to be around other people.

If you have been in recent contact with someone who has received a positive coronavirus test result, you may be contacted by the NHS test and trace service and told to self-isolate for 14 days. Members of your household will not need to self-isolate with you unless you or they develop symptoms of coronavirus.

Read more about how the test and trace service works here. 

The Government are constantly monitoring the international rate of infection and have produced a list of countries where the infection rate is low enough for people to travel to. If you travel to a country outside of this list, where the rate of infection is higher, then you will need to quarantine for 14 days when you get back to the UK.  

The list is constantly being monitored and if the infection rate goes up in countries then the guidelines will change, and you will need to quarantine on your return.  

Check the Government website for more information on travelling abroad. 

After people have completed their period of self-isolation, they should continue to follow Government advice on social distancing. This means following Government guidance, staying two metres away from people (or following the one metre plus rule where this isn’t possible) outside of your household and support bubble, and continuing to take precautions, including washing your hands regularly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

If you or anyone in your household develops symptoms of coronavirus after your first period of self-isolation, or if you are contacted by the test and trace service, then you must start a new period of self-isolation. 

Carers can come and visit but they should be taking extra precautions to keep you safe. 

Don’t be afraid to ask health and care workers how they’re going to maintain good hand hygiene whilst in your home. 

If the person who cares for you feels unwell or has symptoms of coronavirus, they should not carry on providing any care or support and you need to make alternative arrangements. 

Perhaps you can identify another family member, friend, trusted neighbour or local community support group to step in and help. If those options aren't available or appropriate for you, it would be a good idea to also contact your local council and local charities to see how they could help. 

Although things are starting to go back to normal, looking after your physical and mental health is still really important.  

We will all be feeling differently about restrictions being lifted. While you might be pleased, we know that many people are feeling worried about the months ahead.  

If you are feeling anxious about coronavirus take a look here.

Even though we are starting to do more, we will still be spending lots of time at home. We have some tips on managing your physical and mental wellbeing while you stay at home  here. 

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic the way that people receive healthcare and treatment has changed. Some people may have had appointments cancelled or seen them take place in a different way, such as over the phone or home visits from health professionals.

The NHS has put in place plans so it can begin to provide treatment again in a safe way, with infection-control processes in place. Appointments will continue to be held remotely where possible, but some people will be asked to start attending face-to-face appointments again. If you have any concerns about how you will receive treatment or care you should speak to your GP or hospital clinician.

Remember that the NHS is there for you and you should not put off getting help.  

For more information take a look at our information on accessing health services.  

You may be worried about everything going on, feel vulnerable or just want to do all you can to avoid catching coronavirus. That’s totally understandable. And while it’s your choice, the guidance suggests you should only shield if it’s absolutely necessary.

Everyone else is being instructed to follow the social distancing guidance. Beyond that it is up to you to decide on the steps you want to take.

This is something you may wish to discuss with your family and/or your GP or specialist but please be aware that the dedicated support line is only currently available to those who have received letters.

If you want to do more than only social distancing, you might want to think about limiting your social contact by asking family, neighbour or friend to collect your shopping and any prescriptions or exercise at home rather than outdoors.

For further advice on how to manage please see our Coronavirus hub which includes information on a range of things, including staying at home and shopping. 

Having been advised to shield and not leave your home for a long period of time the prospect of going outside may feel daunting.

If you do go outside you should think about the following measures to keep yourself safe:

• Stay 2 metres away from those outside your household or support bubble. If this isn’t possible follow the 1 metre plus rule, which means staying at least one metre away while taking additional precautions, such as wearing a face covering.  
• Avoid busy places where possible and try to go outside at times when there will be fewer people around, such as in the morning.
• Think about limiting the number of people you see from outside of your household or support bubble, particularly over short periods of time.   
• Try to meet up with people in outside spaces where the risk of transmission is lower. If you do spend time inside with people you don’t live with or who aren’t in your support bubble, try to make sure rooms are well-ventilated by opening windows.  
• Practise good hygiene and hand washing practices.It’s a good idea to carry hand sanitiser with you for times when there aren’t washing facilities.  
• If you are not exempt you should wear a face covering where it is mandatory to do so, you may also wish to wear one in other settings where social distancing is more difficult. You can find more advice on face coverings here.  
• Make sure that other measures to protect yourself outside are followed such as wearing sun cream when appropriate and staying hydrated. 

Yes, you can form a support bubble with one other household if you or the other household live alone or with dependents under 18.  

The Government are starting to lift restrictions for people who have been shielding and from the 1 August people will no longer need to shield.

Cases of coronavirus have been decreasing steadily and the chances of coming into contact with someone who has coronavirus are now much lower. It also seems that the chances or coronavirus spreading is lower in summer.

The Government have been closely monitoring the ‘R’ number (reproduction number), which is the average number of people someone who has coronavirus will pass it on to. When the R number is below 1, it means the number of infections will continue decreasing. You can see the latest R number here

This doesn’t mean that the risk from coronavirus has disappeared though. The Government are constantly monitoring the situation and if cases of coronavirus begin to increase may reintroduce some restrictions, such as local lockdowns. It is also important for everyone to continue taking precautions. Although the advice to shield is being paused, the list of those shielding will remain and if things change you will be contacted.

We know that many people are worried about the shielding guidance being paused in August. If you have not left the house since the start of the pandemic, you may be unsure what to expect. You may also be worried about whether it is safe to be going outside or nervous that other people might not be following the guidelines.

We have all had to adapt our lives during the lockdown and may have developed new ways to cope. Changing these routines can seem daunting. There are things you can try to help manage your feelings. You could start by making small changes to your routine to help ease yourself into going outside. For example, you might want to start by going for a short walk or meeting up with a close friend outside. Let your friends and family know that what you are comfortable with, and don’t feel pressured into doing everything at once.

There are lots of things which are uncertain and which we cannot control. Try to focus your energy on the things that you can control and plan how you will manage the things you are most worried about. Everyone will be comfortable with different things right now so try not to compare yourself to others.

You might find it helpful to talk through how you are feeling with someone you trust. If you know other people who have been shielding you could chat to them about how they are managing. You may also want to speak to your hospital clinician or your GP.

From 1 August the guidance for people who are shielding will change and it will be possible for those who have been shielding to go to supermarkets and pharmacies. As such, from 1 August Government food parcels will no longer be being delivered but there will be other support in place if you still need help.

Online delivery priority slots will still be reserved for people who have been shielding. You will need to have registered for support from the Government by 17 July if you want to be eligible for a priority delivery slot going forward. This will mean that your name will be provided to supermarkets to enable you to get an online delivery slot.

The NHS Volunteer Responder scheme will still be available for anyone who needs help getting food, essentials, or medicine, or who wants a chat. You can refer yourself to the NHS Volunteer Responder scheme by calling 0808 196 3646.

Your local Age UK may also be able to provide you with support. Find your local Age UK here.

If you are worried about how you will get food, you can speak to your local authority. We have some more information on shopping which can be found here, it includes information on other delivery options and offers provided by supermarkets.

The Government are constantly monitoring the risk of coronavirus. If the risk of catching coronavirus increases in the future it may be necessary for some people to shield again. If this happens the Government will write to everyone who needs to shield with advice on what to do.

The evidence on who is most at risk from coronavirus is still being developed and scientists are learning more about the virus every day. This means that the list of people who are clinically extremely vulnerable may change and, if shielding is reintroduced, the groups of people who need to shield may be different to those who have shielded so far, based on individual risk factors.

If you are living in an area which due to an increase in cases of coronavirus may mean you have to resume shielding, the Government will write to you to inform you of the steps you need to take to stay safe. These may vary for different areas; you should keep an eye out on local guidance from your local authority’s in the meantime.

If you are unable to work from home or in an area outside of the lockdown area there are some options:

• You may be able to be furloughed in the Coronavirus job retention scheme which runs until October
• You may be entitled to statutory sick pay from your employer
• You may be eligible for benefits.

The advice to shield has now been paused so you are able to meet up with people in line with Government guidance. This means you can meet in groups of up to six people, in indoor or outdoor spaces. You should socially distance from anyone not in your household or support bubble. You may also want to consider extra precautions such as spending as much time as possible in outdoor spaces, keeping indoor spaces well ventilated and where it is more difficult to socially distance you may consider wearing a face covering.