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COVID-19 spreads very easily through close contact with people who have the virus. When someone with COVID-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release small droplets containing the virus.
Jan 19, 2022 · If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and any of the following apply, you do not need to self-isolate: If you are fully vaccinated and 14 days have passed since your final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. You are under 18 years old.
Dec 30, 2021 · A close contact is someone who has been in close proximity to someone who has Covid-19, and therefore is at risk of having the virus too and passing it onto others. In Scotland, close...
Dec 23, 2021 · Current evidence suggests that the virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with each other, for example at a conversational distance. The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe.
- Whether or not they have symptoms, infected people can be contagious and the virus can spread from them to other people. Laboratory data suggests t...
- Both terms refer to people who do not have symptoms. The difference is that ‘asymptomatic’ refers to people who are infected but never develop any...
- Yes, any situation in which people are in close proximity to one another for long periods of time increases the risk of transmission. Indoor locati...
- There are many things you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from COVID-19. Know your risks to lower risks. Follow these basic precau...
- Overview
- Who this guidance is for
- People at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from a respiratory infection, including COVID-19
- Symptoms of respiratory infections, including COVID-19
- What to do if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, and have not taken a COVID-19 test
- Children and young people (aged 18 years and under) who have symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19
- What to do if you have a positive COVID-19 test result
- What to do if you are a close contact of someone who has had a positive test result for COVID-19
- Children and young people aged 18 years and under who have a positive test result
Guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19, or a positive test result for COVID-19.
Most people can no longer access free testing for COVID-19. This guidance is in 2 parts:
1.Actions you can take to protect other people if you are unwell with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, and you have not taken a test for COVID-19.
2.Advice for people who have taken a COVID-19 test and have received a positive test result.
There is separate guidance for people who have been informed by the NHS that they are at highest risk of becoming seriously unwell and who might be eligible for new COVID-19 treatments.
People who are at higher risk from COVID-19 and other respiratory infections include:
•older people
•those who are pregnant
•those who are unvaccinated
•people of any age whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness
•people of any age with certain long-term conditions
Respiratory infections can spread easily between people. It is important to be aware of symptoms so you can take action to reduce the risk of spreading your infection to other people.
The symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections are very similar. It is not possible to tell if you have COVID-19, flu or another respiratory infection based on symptoms alone. Most people with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections will have a relatively mild illness, especially if they have been vaccinated.
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and common respiratory infections include:
•continuous cough
•high temperature, fever or chills
Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you no longer feel unwell. It is particularly important to avoid close contact with anyone who you know is at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell if they are infected with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, especially those whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness, despite vaccination. Try to work from home if you can. If you are unable to work from home, talk to your employer about options available to you. If you have been asked to attend a medical or dental appointment in person, contact your healthcare provider and let them know about your symptoms. You may wish to ask friends, family or neighbours to get food and other essentials for you.
If you leave your home
If you leave your home while you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, and you have a high temperature or feel unwell, avoid close contact with anyone who you know is at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell, especially those whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness, despite vaccination. The following actions will reduce the chance of passing on your infection to others: wearing a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask avoiding crowded places such as public transport, large social gatherings, or anywhere that is enclosed or poorly ventilated taking any exercise outdoors in places where you will not have close contact with other people covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose and before you eat or handle food; avoid touching your face
Reduce the spread of infection in your household
While you are unwell there is a high risk of passing your infection to others in your household. These are simple things you can do to help prevent the spread: try to keep your distance from people you live with in shared areas wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask, especially if you live with people whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness, despite vaccination ventilate rooms you have been in by opening windows and leaving them open for at least 10 minutes after you have left the room wash your hands regularly and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing regularly clean frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles and remote controls, and shared areas such as kitchens and bathrooms advise anyone that does need to come into your home that you have symptoms, so they can take precautions to protect themselves such as wearing a well-fitting face covering or a surgical face mask, keeping their distance if they can, and washing their hands regularly GermDefence is a website that can help you identify simple ways to protect yourself and others in your household from COVID-19 and other viruses. People who use GermDefence are less likely to catch flu and other infections and are less likely to spread them at home. There is further guidance on protecting yourself and others in living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
Respiratory infections are common in children and young people, particularly during the winter months. Symptoms can be caused by several respiratory infections including the common cold, COVID-19 and RSV.
For most children and young people, these illnesses will not be serious, and they will soon recover following rest and plenty of fluids.
Very few children and young people with respiratory infections become seriously unwell. This is also true for children and young people with long-term conditions. Some children under 2, especially those born prematurely or with a heart condition, can be more seriously unwell from RSV.
Attending education is hugely important for children and young people’s health and their future.
Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people
If you have a positive COVID-19 test result, it is very likely that you have COVID-19 even if you do not have any symptoms. You can pass on the infection to others, even if you have no symptoms. Most people with COVID-19 will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days. If you have a positive COVID-19 test result, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test. There is different advice for children and young people aged 18 and under. During this period there are actions you can take to reduce the risk of passing COVID-19 on to others. Try to work from home if you can. If you are unable to work from home, talk to your employer about options available to you. If you have been asked to attend a medical or dental appointment in person, contact your healthcare provider and let them know about your positive test result. You may wish to ask friends, family or neighbours to get food and other essentials for you. At the end of this period, if you have a high temperature or feel unwell, try to follow this advice until you feel well enough to resume normal activities and you no longer have a high temperature if you had one. Although most people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days, some people may be infectious to other people for up to 10 days from the start of their infection. You should avoid meeting people at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19, especially those whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, despite vaccination, for 10 days after the day you took your test.
If you leave your home
If you leave your home during the 5 days after your positive test result the following steps will reduce the chance of passing on COVID-19 to others: wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask avoid crowded places such as public transport, large social gatherings, or anywhere that is enclosed or poorly ventilated take any exercise outdoors in places where you will not have close contact with other people cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose and before you eat or handle food; avoid touching your face
Reduce the spread of infection in your household
While you are infectious there is a high risk of passing your infection to others in your household. These are simple things you can do to help prevent the spread: try to keep your distance from people you live with in shared areas wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask, especially if you live with people whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness, despite vaccination ventilate rooms you have been in by opening windows and leaving them open for at least 10 minutes after you have left the room wash your hands regularly and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing regularly clean frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles and remote controls, and shared areas such as kitchens and bathrooms advise anyone that does need to come into your home that you have a positive test result, so they can take precautions to protect themselves such as wearing a well-fitting face covering or a surgical face mask, keeping their distance if they can, and washing their hands regularly GermDefence is a website that can help you identify simple ways to protect yourself and others in your household from COVID-19 and other viruses. People who use GermDefence are less likely to catch flu and other infections and are less likely to spread them at home.
People who live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 are at the highest risk of becoming infected because they are most likely to have prolonged close contact. People who stayed overnight in the household of someone with COVID-19 while they were infectious are also at high risk.
If you are a household or overnight contact of someone who has had a positive COVID -19 test result it can take up to 10 days for your infection to develop. It is possible to pass on COVID-19 to others, even if you have no symptoms.
You can reduce the risk to other people by taking the following steps:
•avoid contact with anyone you know who is at higher risk of becoming severely unwell if they are infected with COVID-19, especially those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, despite vaccination
•limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
•wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask if you do need to have close contact with other people, or you are in a crowded place
It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Oct 27, 2022 · Avoid close contact with those at higher risk of serious illness from COVID. Follow procedures outlined in BBC ‘Living with COVID’ guidance for people at higher risk.
People also ask
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Dec 6, 2021 · You should also self-isolate if you live with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive for the virus, or are identified as a close contact by NHS Test and Trace, the NHS COVID-19 app or UCL Connect to Protect team, unless the following applies: When you don’t need to self-isolate
