What are the main symptoms?

Public Health England advises that the most important symptoms of coronavirus are a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss of or change in sense of taste or smell.

What do I do if displaying symptoms?

If displaying these symptoms, however mild they may be, then self-isolation must be followed for at least 10 days from when the symptoms started.

A test should then be arranged, while it is important to not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

A swab test can be taken at a test site or with a home test kit.

Tests can be booked on the gov.uk website.

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When should I self-isolate?

If the test result returns positive, even if you are not experiencing symptoms, you should self-isolate for for at least 10 days, starting from the day the test was taken.

If you develop symptoms during this isolation period, the 10-day isolation period should be restarted from the day symptoms were developed.

What is NHS Test and Trace?

Following a positive test result, NHS Test and Trace will make contact, requesting you to log into the service website and provide information about recent close contacts.

If NHS Test and Trace calls by phone, it will be from the number 0300 013 5000, while text messages will come from ‘NHStracing’.

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Can I get fined for not self-isolating?

From Monday, September 28, fines will be given out to people who do not stay at home and self-isolate following a positive test result or if they have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace, and been instructed to self-isolate.

From this date, if you have tested positive for Covid-19, it will also be an offence to knowingly provide false information about close contacts to NHS Test and Trace.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in a fine of up to £10,000.

These regulations however will only apply in England.

What happens when the isolation period ends?

Following the 10-day isolation period, if a temperature persists, then self-isolation should continue and medical advice sought.

You do not need to self-isolate after 10 days, if experiencing a cough or loss of sense of smell or taste as these symptoms can last for several weeks after the infection has gone.

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What if I live with others?

Living with others complicates the self-isolation advice, as all other household members should stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the household became ill, or if they do not have symptoms, from the day their test was taken.

If anyone else in the household then starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for at least 10 days from when those symptoms appear, regardless of of what day they are on in their original 14-day isolation period.

Contact with other members of the household should be avoided, while it is important to stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened. The door should be kept closed.

It is important to remember the normal hygiene advice, including to regularly wash hands.

What if I get symptoms again?

Guidance on self-isolation should be followed again if coronavirus symptoms are developed at any point after the first period of isolation.