Guidance

COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 12 March 2020
• Last updated: 2 December 2021 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection

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Stay at home illustration

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Details

This guidance is intended for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

An illustration demonstrating a worked example for household self-isolation is included.

Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has been incorporated into Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection as of 19 July 2021.

The translations and easy read have been temporarily removed while they are being updated in line with the latest changes to guidance.

Published 12 March 2020
Last updated 2 December 2021 + show all updates

1. 2 December 2021

   Clarified that contacts legally required to self-isolate (including contacts of suspected or confirmed Omicron cases) must complete their isolation period even if they test negative during that period.

2. 30 November 2021

   Updated guidance for contacts of people identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and on PCR testing. Removed translations and easy read versions.

3. 17 November 2021

   Updated guidance on when asymptomatic people should take an LFD test.

4. 11 October 2021

   Updated to reflect the end of the shielding programme.

5. 29 September 2021

   Updated stay at home illustration.

6. 24 September 2021

   Updated easy-read version.

7. 31 August 2021

   Added translations.

8. 13 August 2021

   Added information for children and young people attending educational settings.

9. 12 August 2021

   Updated in line with changes to self-isolation for contacts from 16 August.

10. 2 August 2021

    Updated translations.

11. 19 July 2021

    Updated in line with changes to guidance for Step 4 of the roadmap. Added information for those living a nomadic way of life, and on the use of GermDefence. 'Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection' has been incorporated into the main 'Stay at home' guidance document.

12. 23 June 2021

    Updated translations.

13. 11 June 2021

    Added information on contacts organising a PCR test and added recommendation for those with symptoms to organise a test even if symptoms are mild.

14. 19 May 2021

    Updated translations.

15. 30 April 2021

    Updated to include Universal Testing Offer.

16. 21 April 2021

    Added translated versions.

17. 30 March 2021

    Reinforced advice for those who have been fully vaccinated. Guidance updated regarding follow-up PCR for positive assisted LFD tests.

18. 15 February 2021

    Added illustration demonstrating a worked example for household self-isolation and updated translations and easy-read guidance.

19. 28 January 2021

    Updated to reflect legal duty for public to isolate following a positive LFD test. Added information for staff being tested regularly in care homes, the NHS and schools.

20. 19 January 2021

    Added Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi and Urdu translations.

21. 18 December 2020

    Updated 'Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection' to reflect change in self-isolation period for contacts from 14 to 10 days.

22. 14 December 2020

    Updated Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection with changes in self-isolation.

23. 5 November 2020

    Added updated easy-read version and translations for Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

24. 23 October 2020

    Updated guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together with information on how COVID-19 is spread and on financial support and the enforcement of self-isolation. All translations have been removed while awaiting update.

25. 9 October 2020

    Added information on actions to take in case of a negative test result, enforcement of self-isolation, and aerosol transmission.

26. 28 September 2020

    Updated to include new legal requirements for self-isolation.

27. 23 September 2020

    Updated to include new legal requirements for self-isolation due to come into effect on 28 September 2020.

28. 20 September 2020

    Updated guidance to include the new legal requirements for self-isolation due to come into effect on 28 September 2020.

29. 10 September 2020

    Updated link on support bubbles in guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together.

30. 3 September 2020

    Revised language in relation to self-isolation.

31. 13 August 2020

    Updated translated versions to reflect changes to core guidance.

32. 12 August 2020

    Updated translated versions to reflect changes to core guidance.

33. 4 August 2020

    Updated easy read version with changes to self-isolation period.

34. 31 July 2020

    Removed 'Stay at Home guidance for households: current guidelines illustrated' PDF, as out of date.

35. 30 July 2020

    Updated to reflect the extension of self-isolation to 10 days.

36. 30 July 2020

    Updated link to information on local restrictions.

37. 17 July 2020

    Updated information on disposal of used face coverings.

38. 17 July 2020

    Updated information on disposal of used face coverings.

39. 13 July 2020

    Added updated translations.

40. 8 July 2020

    Added local lockdowns guidance link to guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has possible or confirmed coronavirus infection.

41. 18 June 2020

    Added easy-read guide.

42. 16 June 2020

    Added guidance on support bubbles.

43. 11 June 2020

    Updated 'Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection' to align with Test and Trace regulations.

44. 28 May 2020

    Updated 'Stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection'.

45. 18 May 2020

    Updated information on symptoms.

46. 28 April 2020

    Added guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

47. 21 April 2020

    Amended text in section on 'Self-isolation' to be consistent with text about 'Household isolation'.

48. 9 April 2020

    Guidance updated.

49. 24 March 2020

    Added YouTube video.

50. 23 March 2020

    Added translated versions of guidance.

51. 20 March 2020

    Added easy-read guide.

52. 20 March 2020

    Added translated versions.

53. 18 March 2020

    Added 'Stay at home guidance for households: illustration' document.

54. 16 March 2020

    Updated guidance to include information for households with a possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

55. 12 March 2020

    First published.