- Self-isolating: stay at home if you think you have coronavirus
- Stay alert: what you can and cannot do
- Staying safe outside your home
- Face coverings: when to wear one and how to make your own
- Shielding: protecting yourself if you're clinically extremely vulnerable
- Unpaid carers: supporting friends and family
Coronavirus (COVID‑19)
Help control the virus
To protect yourself and others, when you leave home you must:
- wash hands - keep washing your hands regularly
- cover face - wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in enclosed spaces
- make space - stay at least a metre away from people not in your household
If you are feeling unwell, get a test and do not leave home for at least 10 days.
If you have coronavirus symptoms:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste
Find out what support you can get
For example, if you’re out of work, need to get food, or want to take care of your mental health.
Guidance and support
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Get coronavirus (COVID-19) support if you’re working less or not working - and find out how to stay safe at work.
Popular content
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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
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for parents, schools, colleges and universities: closures, exams, learning, health and wellbeing.
Popular content
- Guidance for British citizens travelling abroad
- Travel to the UK: countries with a quarantine exemption
- Countries exempt from advice against non-essential international travel
- What you need to do if you’re travelling to the UK
- Foreign travel advice for each country
- Safer air travel guidance for passengers
- Get support if you’re waiting to return to the UK
- Guidance for visa applicants in the UK and abroad
- Safer travel guidance for passengers
- Safer transport guidance for operators
- Renewals of lorry and bus driving licences for people over 45
Driving and theory tests
Until 1 August 2020
Testing
- Essential workers: book your test
- Care home workers: book your test
- How to take a swab test and where to send samples
Guidance for managers
Managing patients with coronavirus (COVID-19)
- How to protect extremely vulnerable people (shielding)
- Using PPE (personal protective equipment)
- COVID-19: guidance for health professionals
- Managing coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths
Support for healthcare workers and volunteers
- How to volunteer
- Join a vaccine research study
- Join a genetic study if you tested positive for coronavirus
- Donate blood plasma if you have tested positive for coronavirus
- How to help others safely
- Guidance for unpaid carers
- Help to increase coronavirus testing capacity
- Help tackle false information spreading online
See specific guidance for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Announcements
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North West of England: local restrictions – what you can and cannot do
Published 31 July 2020
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Self-isolating period changes from 7 to 10 days
Published 30 July 2020
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Face coverings to be mandatory in shops and supermarkets from 24 July
Published 14 July 2020
Press conferences and speeches
Broadcast 31 July 2020