Was bedeutest flr

If you get a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 (coronavirus), you need to self-isolate (stay in your room) for 7 days.

There is a high risk you could spread the virus to other people. Do this even if you completed your first round of COVID-19 vaccination, had a booster or had a positive PCR test in the past.

If you are at the highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19, there are new treatments that may be suitable for you.

If your symptoms get worse

If you start to feel very unwell, phone your GP or GP out-of-hours. Do this if your breathing changes or becomes difficult or your cough gets worse.

How long to self-isolate

You should self-isolate (stay in your room) as soon as you notice symptoms of COVID-19 or get a positive COVID-19 test result.

You need to self-isolate for 7 full days, including day 7 itself.

Start from the date you first had symptoms. If you do not have symptoms, it's 7 days from the date of your first positive result.

You can stop isolating after 7 days if your symptoms are fully or mostly gone for the last 48 hours.

It's OK to stop self-isolating even if you have a mild cough or changes to your sense of smell – these can last for weeks after the infection has gone.

Read about how to self-isolate

After your 7 days of self-isolation

When you stop self-isolating after 7 days, you need to take extra care for another 3 days to reduce the risk of passing on COVID-19.

Be especially careful in places that are:

• crowded
• enclosed
• poorly ventilated
• hard to avoid close contact with people

You should:

• limit close contact with other people outside your household
• wear a medical or respirator face covering
• avoid contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19
  
• follow all the usual advice on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19
• work from home, if possible

There is separate advice for children who are isolating

People you live with

You need to provide details of people you live with if they:

• have a weak immune system (immunocompromised)
• have a high risk medical condition

You can do this on the list your contacts website.

How long to go back

If you had symptoms of COVID-19 before your test, include people you live with from 48 hours before you developed symptoms.

If you did not have symptoms of COVID-19 before your test, include people you live with from 24 hours before your test.

Last updated: 8 September 2022 at 4pm