Coronavirus (COVID‑19)

National lockdown: stay at home

Coronavirus (COVID‑19) is spreading fast.

Do not leave your home unless necessary.

1 in 3 people who have the virus have no symptoms, so you could be spreading it without knowing it.

Find out what the rules are

If you have any coronavirus symptoms:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

Get a test and stay at home

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.

Find support

Roadmap out of lockdown

A 4-step plan to ease lockdown in England has been announced.

1 March

Households of, and people in a support or childcare bubble with, school pupils and staff members can get twice-weekly rapid lateral flow tests.

Secondary school pupils and all school staff (both primary and secondary) will get tested twice a week at their school.

From 8 March

Pupils return to face-to-face education in school and further education in England. Wraparound childcare, such as after-school clubs, can reopen.

Outdoor recreation, such as a picnic, is allowed. This can be on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble.

Indoor visits to care homes start again for a single named visitor.

Read the current rules and the changes happening from 8 March.

Guidance and support

What you can and cannot do

National restrictions

• National lockdown in England
• Restrictions in Scotland
• Restrictions in Wales
• Restrictions in Northern Ireland

Social distancing and shielding

• Social distancing rules
• Support bubbles: close contact with another household
• Childcare bubbles: looking after children with another household
• Shielding: get support if you're clinically extremely vulnerable
• Shielding: how to protect yourself if you're clinically extremely vulnerable

Testing and self-isolating

• Find out about coronavirus testing

  Find out whether you need a PCR test or rapid lateral flow test for coronavirus (COVID-19)

Getting tested

• Get a test if you have symptoms
• Get a test if you do not have symptoms
• Report a COVID-19 test result from a lateral flow test kit
• Book a test if you have a verification code
• Businesses: ordering workplace tests
• Households and bubbles of school pupils and staff: get rapid lateral flow tests
• Schools and further education providers: ordering tests

Self-isolation

• Self-isolating: check if you can get a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment
• Self-isolating: stay at home if you think you have coronavirus
• NHS test and trace: what to do if you are contacted

Schools, universities, education and childcare

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

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

Popular content

• Return to schools
• Return to higher education
• Households and bubbles of school pupils and staff: get rapid lateral flow tests

International travel

• International travel is restricted: check coronavirus travel advice
• Entering or returning to the UK
• How to quarantine when you arrive in England
• How to self-isolate if you arrived in England before 15 February
• Booking a stay and tests in a quarantine hotel
• Testing for people travelling to England
• Reduce self-isolation time after travel by paying for a test

Vaccination

• Coronavirus vaccination information in England
• Coronavirus vaccination information in Scotland
• Coronavirus vaccination information in Wales
• Coronavirus vaccination information in Northern Ireland
• Vaccination information in other languages, including Punjabi, Arabic and Bengali

Work and financial support

• Getting financial help and staying safe at work

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

Popular content

• Furlough: Check if your employer can put you on temporary leave
• Redundancy: your rights
• Apply for a Test and Trace Support Payment
• Citizens Advice: advice if you’re worried about working

Businesses and self-employed people

• 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

• Your business has had to close: check if you can get a grant
• Financial support for businesses and self-employed people
• Register to order coronavirus tests for your employees
• How to make your workplace COVID-secure

See all coronavirus guidance on GOV.UK

See specific guidance for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Announcements

• New data show vaccines reduce severe COVID-19 in older adults

  Published 1 March 2021

• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK

  Published 28 February 2021

• All households and bubbles with school aged children to get rapid COVID-19 tests twice a week

  Published 28 February 2021

See all announcements

UK statistics

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

All coronavirus information on GOV.UK

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

Stay up to date with GOV.UK

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