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Guidance

COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

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

Updates to this page

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published:
12 March 2020
Last updated:
15 February 2022
Show all updates

  1. Added translated versions.

  2. Added translation versions.

  3. Added information on what to do if someone has a negative follow-up PCR test after a positive LFD test. Updated information on the exemption from self-isolation for those aged between 18 years 0 months and 18 years 6 months.

  4. Updated to reflect changes to the self-isolation advice for people who have received a positive COVID-19 test result.

  5. Updated to remove requirement for people testing positive on an LFD test to have a confirmatory PCR test.

  6. Updated title of the ending isolation infographic and clarified that self-isolation advice applies to children and young people.

  7. Clarified testing advice for ending self-isolation early, including an infographic.

  8. Guidance updated to reflect changes to the self-isolation advice for people who have received a positive COVID-19 test result.

  9. Updated advice on testing for people who live with someone with COVID-19.

  10. Updated with advice for contacts who are not legally required to self-isolate to take 7 LFD tests. Removed legal requirements relating to contacts of someone infected with the Omicron variant. Added household transmission infographic.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

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

  14. Updated to reflect the end of the shielding programme.

  15. Updated stay at home illustration.

  16. Updated easy-read version.

  17. Added translations.

  18. Added information for children and young people attending educational settings.

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

  20. Updated translations.

  21. 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.

  22. Updated translations.

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

  24. Updated translations.

  25. Updated to include Universal Testing Offer.

  26. Added translated versions.

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

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

  29. 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.

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

  31. 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.

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

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

  34. 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.

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

  36. Updated to include new legal requirements for self-isolation.

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

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

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

  40. Revised language in relation to self-isolation.

  41. Updated translated versions to reflect changes to core guidance.

  42. Updated translated versions to reflect changes to core guidance.

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

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

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

  46. Updated link to information on local restrictions.

  47. Updated information on disposal of used face coverings.

  48. Updated information on disposal of used face coverings.

  49. Added updated translations.

  50. 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.

  51. Added easy-read guide.

  52. Added guidance on support bubbles.

  53. 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.

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

  55. Updated information on symptoms.

  56. 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.

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

  58. Guidance updated.

  59. Added YouTube video.

  60. Added translated versions of guidance.

  61. Added easy-read guide.

  62. Added translated versions.

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

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

  65. First published.

This publication was withdrawn on

The information in this guidance has been superseded by information in People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19

Applies to England

Documents

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

HTML

[Withdrawn] How to reduce the spread of infection with the people you live with if you have COVID-19 (infographic)

PDF, 882 KB, 1 page

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[Withdrawn] How to reduce the spread of infection with the people you live with if you have COVID-19 (infographic)

HTML

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

PDF, 984 KB, 23 pages

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

PDF, 1.86 MB, 31 pages

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

PDF, 1020 KB, 25 pages

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

PDF, 1.53 MB, 28 pages

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

PDF, 1.62 MB, 27 pages

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

PDF, 1.62 MB, 29 pages

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

PDF, 1020 KB, 26 pages

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

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

PDF, 1.5 MB, 26 pages

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[Withdrawn] Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection (Punjabi - Gurmukhi)

PDF, 1.56 MB, 25 pages

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[Withdrawn] Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection (Punjabi - Shahmukhi)

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[Withdrawn] Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection (Simplified Chinese)

PDF, 1.56 MB, 20 pages

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[Withdrawn] Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection (Traditional Chinese)

PDF, 1.64 MB, 21 pages

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

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

PDF, 1.61 MB, 28 pages

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

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

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Details

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

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 easy read has been temporarily removed while it is being updated in line with the latest changes to guidance.

An illustration demonstrating a worked example for household self-isolation has been temporarily removing while it is being updated in line with the latest changes to guidance.

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