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Coronavirus (COVID‑19)

England has moved to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.

  • Get vaccinated and get your booster dose
  • Wear a face covering in most indoor public places and on public transport
  • Work from home, if you can
  • Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer
  • Get tested and self-isolate if required
Find out how to stay safe and help prevent the spread

Recent and upcoming changes

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Changes in England

17 January , this guidance applies to England

16 and 17 year olds can now book a booster dose online. Parents and guardians of people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 between 12 to 15 years old, or those living with people at higher risk, will also be contacted to book a booster.

17 January , this guidance applies to England

You can stop self-isolating at the start of day 6 if you get 2 negative rapid lateral flow test results on days 5 and 6 and do not have a temperature. Tests must be at least 24 hours apart. If either test is positive, wait 24 hours before testing again.

11 January , this guidance applies to England

If you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, most people will not need to take a PCR test to confirm the result. You must self-isolate immediately if you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result.

9 January , this guidance applies to England

From 4am on 9 January, if you qualify as fully vaccinated, you can take either a rapid lateral flow or PCR test within 2 days of arriving in England. If you have a positive result on the rapid lateral flow test, you must take a PCR test.

Changes in Northern Ireland

5 January , this guidance applies to Northern Ireland

If you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, you should isolate immediately. You no longer need to book a PCR test.

31 December , this guidance applies to Northern Ireland

People who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 10 days from their PCR test date or when symptoms started, whichever is sooner. People can end self-isolation early if they get two negative rapid lateral flow tests – one from day 6 and the second at least 24 hours later.

27 December , this guidance applies to Northern Ireland

You should reduce social contact as much as possible by meeting in groups of no more than 3 households.

Up to 6 people can meet in pubs, bars and restaurants, or up to 10 people if they’re all from the same household. Only table service is available.

2 metre social distancing is required in public premises and offices. Find out more about changes in Northern Ireland.

Changes in Scotland

17 January , this guidance applies to Scotland

Most people will need to have had a booster dose to be recognised as fully vaccinated under the COVID certification scheme.

Restrictions on numbers at outdoor events are lifted. Indoor events remain limited to 100 people standing and 200 people sitting. The COVID certification scheme must be used for both outdoor and indoor events.

6 January , this guidance applies to Scotland

If you’re a close contact of someone with COVID–19 and you’re fully vaccinated along with your booster dose, you can take daily rapid lateral flow tests for 7 days instead of self isolating. If you test positive or develop symptoms during this time you should self-isolate for 10 days.

If you test positive for COVID-19 you should self-isolate for 10 days. You can end self-isolation early if you do not have a high temperature and get 2 negative lateral flow test results on days 6 and 7, taken at least 24 hours apart.

If you do not have symptoms and get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, you must self-isolate. You do not need to take a PCR test to confirm your result.

Find out more on gov.scot

27 December , this guidance applies to Scotland

Up to 3 households can meet with 1 metre physical distancing between groups at indoor and outdoor venues like bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms. Table service is needed if alcohol is being served.

Changes in Wales

28 January , this guidance applies to Wales

There will be no limits on how many people can meet indoors at pubs, restaurants, cinemas and theatres. Nightclubs will reopen.

21 January , this guidance applies to Wales

Sporting events can have crowds, with no limits on how many people can attend outdoor events.

15 January , this guidance applies to Wales

Up to 500 people can attend outdoor events.

6 January , this guidance applies to Wales

If you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, most people will not need to take a PCR test to confirm the result. You must self-isolate immediately if you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result.

31 December , this guidance applies to Wales

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for 7 full days. On days 6 and 7 they should take rapid lateral flow tests 24 hours apart. If the results are positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get 2 negative tests, or after day 10, whichever is sooner. If they are negative they can stop self-isolating. Find out more about self-isolation on GOV.WALES.

Testing and vaccinations

Testing for COVID-19

Find out how to get tested, what your test result means and how to report your result.

COVID-19 vaccination

Get your COVID-19 vaccination including booster dose, read about how vaccinations work and what happens when you have one.

Guidance and support

Staying safe

Includes advice on preventing the spread of COVID-19, mental health and domestic abuse

Get help and support with domestic abuse, homelessness or if you’re vulnerable

Get mental health support

Testing and self-isolating

Includes information on getting tested for COVID-19, reporting your results and how to self-isolate

Getting tested

Report your test result

Self-isolating: what you need to do

Getting support if you’re self-isolating

International travel

Includes showing your vaccination status, travelling to England and filling in your passenger locator form

Travelling to England

Long COVID

Includes advice, support and treatment options

Self-employment and businesses

Includes keeping your business safe and getting financial support

Get financial support

Work and support

Includes guidance on finding work, self-employment and benefits, and support at work
  • Being made redundant

    Guidance on finding work, claiming benefits, and managing debts and pensions if you’re being made redundant.

Schools, universities, education and childcare

Includes guidance for parents, carers, students and education settings

Advice for parents and carers during COVID-19

Guidance on managing COVID-19 in different settings

See all COVID-19 guidance on GOV.UK

See specific guidance for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

UK COVID-19 statistics

People tested positive

Daily 94,432

Last 7 days 673,987 -429,673 (-38.9%)

All case data
Latest data provided on 18 January 2022

Patients admitted to hospital

Daily 1,892

Last 7 days 15,217 -451 (-2.9%)

All healthcare data
Latest data provided on 14 January 2022

People vaccinated, percentage of population aged 12 and over

First dose 90.7% (52,133,611 people)

Second dose 83.4% (47,989,635 people)

Booster or third dose 63.6% (36,546,583 people)

All vaccination data
Latest data provided on 17 January 2022

Announcements

See all announcements

More COVID-19 information