Coronavirus (COVID‑19)

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Coronavirus remains a serious health risk. You should stay cautious to help protect yourself and others.

• Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer
• Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet
• Get tested and self-isolate if required
• If you haven’t already, get vaccinated

Find out how to stay safe and help prevent the spread

If you have no symptoms:

• get regular rapid lateral flow tests
• report rapid lateral flow test results

If you have coronavirus symptoms:

• get a PCR test
• stay at home

Recent and upcoming changes

New rules for travelling or returning to England England

• New international travel system from 4 Oct: red list and rest of world
• Changes to rules for fully vaccinated travellers coming from non-red list countries
• 8 destinations removed from red list including Turkey and Pakistan

Autumn and winter plan 2021 England

The government has set out its COVID-19 autumn and winter plan.

Booster vaccine dose for people most at risk from COVID-19 UK Wide

People aged 50 years and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care workers, and those aged 16 to 49 years with specific underlying health conditions will be offered a booster vaccine dose. Find out more about the booster vaccine on NHS.UK.

First dose vaccinations for young people UK Wide

All young people aged 12 to 15 will soon be offered a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Booster vaccine dose for people most at risk from COVID-19 UK Wide

People aged 50 years and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care workers, and those aged 16 to 49 years with specific underlying health conditions will be offered a booster vaccine dose. Find out more about the booster vaccine on NHS.UK.

First dose vaccinations for young people UK Wide

All young people aged 12 to 15 will soon be offered a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Latest regulations Northern Ireland

Since 10 September up to 15 people can meet in a person’s home, dancing is allowed at weddings and civil partnerships, and rules for bars and restaurants have been eased. Find out what you can and cannot do in Northern Ireland on nidirect.

Booster vaccine dose for people most at risk from COVID-19 UK Wide

People aged 50 years and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care workers, and those aged 16 to 49 years with specific underlying health conditions will be offered a booster vaccine dose. Find out more about the booster vaccine on NHS.UK.

First dose vaccinations for young people UK Wide

All young people aged 12 to 15 will soon be offered a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

No current protection levels Scotland

To keep each other safe, there remain a number of principles and some legal requirements you should follow. Read the latest coronavirus guidance for Scotland on GOV.SCOT.

NHS COVID Pass required for nightclubs and large events Wales

From 11 October, you’ll need to show proof that you are fully vaccinated or have a recent negative rapid lateral flow test using NHS COVID Pass to attend nightclubs and large events. Find out more on GOV.WALES.

Booster vaccine dose for people most at risk from COVID-19 UK Wide

People aged 50 years and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care workers, and those aged 16 to 49 years with specific underlying health conditions will be offered a booster vaccine dose. Find out more about the booster vaccine on NHS.UK.

First dose vaccinations for young people UK Wide

All young people aged 12 to 15 will soon be offered a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Alert level 0 Wales

Most restrictions have been lifted. You still need to wear a face covering in many places including public transport. Read the latest coronavirus guidance for Wales on GOV.WALES.

Guidance and support

Staying safe

• How to stay safe and help prevent the spread

  Coronavirus remains a serious health risk. Find out how to manage the risks and protect yourself and others.

• Clinically extremely vulnerable: how to protect yourself

If you feel unsafe where you live

• Domestic abuse: how to get help
• Being evicted or made homeless: how to get help (Shelter)

If you need mental health support

• Coping with mental health problems during coronavirus (Mind)
• Getting urgent help for mental health (NHS)

Testing and self-isolating

• Find out which coronavirus test you should get on NHS.UK

  Find out about the different types of coronavirus (COVID-19) test and how to get tested.

Getting tested

• Get a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms
• Order rapid lateral flow tests if you do not have symptoms
• Report a test result from a lateral flow test kit
• Book a test if you have a verification code
• Surge testing for people without symptoms: how to get a test, and locations in England

Self-isolation

• Self-isolating: check if you can get a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment
• Self-isolating: when someone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms or has had a positive test result
• NHS test and trace: what to do if you are contacted
• Get support if you cannot go out to get food or medicine, for example if you’re self isolating or vulnerable (Royal Voluntary Service)
• Find out about getting statutory sick pay if you’re self-isolating (Acas)

International travel

• Travel abroad: what you need to do

  Find out the rules for travelling abroad and returning to England.

• Check if a country is on the red, amber or green list
• Find out the rules if you're travelling to England and you live in another country
• Fill in your passenger locator form
• Get the NHS COVID Pass to prove you're vaccinated when travelling abroad

Vaccination

• COVID-19 vaccination information on NHS.UK

  Find out who can get the vaccine, how to book or manage your appointment, information on vaccine safety, and vaccines in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

• Vaccination information in other languages, including Punjabi, Arabic and Bengali on NHS England

COVID-19 booster vaccine information

• Find out who can get a booster dose and how on NHS.UK

Long COVID

• Information and guidance about long COVID on NHS.UK

  Find out about the symptoms of long COVID and the treatment and support you can get.

• Get support on your COVID-19 recovery via NHS.UK

Self-employment and businesses

• Getting financial help and keeping your business safe

  Get coronavirus (COVID-19) support for your business or if you’re self-employed, and find out how to keep your business and your employees safe.

Popular content

• Working safely: guidance for workplaces
• Check if you can claim a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant
• Financial support for businesses and self-employed people

Work and support

• Getting financial help and staying safe at work

  Get coronavirus (COVID-19) support if you’re working less or not working, need other support - and find out how to stay safe at work.

Advice and support

• Claim tax relief for working from home
• Furlough: check if your employer can put you on temporary paid leave
• Apply for a Test and Trace Support Payment
• Citizens Advice: advice if you’re worried about working
• Get support if you’ve been made redundant
• What to do if you’ve been furloughed
• If you’re self-employed and getting less or no work
• Find out about benefits and sick pay

Schools, universities, education and childcare

• Guidance for teachers, school leaders, carers, parents and students

  Coronavirus (COVID-19) information about schools, nurseries, colleges and universities.

• Order rapid lateral flow tests if you’re a parent or carer
• Parents and carers: what you need to know

See all coronavirus guidance on GOV.UK

See specific guidance for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Announcements

• Secretary of State for Transport: statement to Parliament on international travel

  Published 20 September 2021

• New rules for international travel to England

  Published 17 September 2021

• Groundbreaking new COVID-19 treatment to be rolled out to vulnerable hospital patients

  Published 17 September 2021

• Shielding programme ends for clinically extremely vulnerable

  Published 15 September 2021

See all announcements

UK statistics

Total vaccinations

48.6 million

people have received their first dose

Last updated 20 September 2021

Vaccination data from the coronavirus data dashboard

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Daily hospital admissions

861

new patients have been admitted to hospital

Last updated 16 September 2021

Healthcare data from the coronavirus data dashboard

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Daily new cases

31,564

people tested positive with COVID-19

Last updated 21 September 2021

Cases data from the coronavirus data dashboard

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• Daily summary of coronavirus testing, cases and vaccinations
• Data and trends from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
• All data and analysis on coronavirus

All coronavirus information on GOV.UK

• Guidance
• News
• Legislation (legislation.gov.uk)
• Press conferences (YouTube)
• Press conference statements

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