Self-isolation is when you do not leave your home because you have or might have coronavirus (COVID-19).  This helps stop the virus spreading to other people.

Testing and tracing alone will not stop the spread of COVID-19. Self-isolation is a key requirement to prevent you from passing on the virus to your loved ones, the people you work with, your neighbours and your community.

Self-isolation means not leaving your home for any reason, including: to get food and essential supplies such as medicines, exercise, carry out caring responsibilities or even to walk your dog.

Self-isolation is different to:

• social distancing – general advice for everyone to avoid close contact with other people
• shielding – advice for people at high risk from coronavirus

Find out more about when you need to self-isolate and what you need to do.

Anybody in your household could need to self-isolate with little warning.  Make sure you have a plan in place so that you feel confident you could cope if you needed to self-isolate.

Contact from NHS Test and Trace and your local council

Self-isolating after testing positive

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you will receive the following contact from NHS Test and Trace:

• Self-isolation day 2 - Text message or email
• Self-isolation day 4 - Phone call
• Self-isolation day 5 - Text message or email
• Self-isolation day 7 - Phone call
• Self-isolation day 8 - Text message or email
• Self-isolation day 10 - Phone call

Your local council will also make contact with you if you have requested additional support to self-isolate or have identified yourself as clinically or extremely vulnerable.

If you request support from your local council during your isolation, they will contact you again at the end of your isolation period to offer additional help and support if required.

Self-isolating if you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive

If you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you will receive the following contact from NHS Test and Trace:

• Self-isolation day 2 - Text message or email
• Self-isolation day 4 - Phone call
• Self-isolation day 5 - Text message or email
• Self-isolation day 7 - Phone call
• Self-isolation day 8 - Text message or email

Your local council will also make contact to offer additional help and support.

If you request support from your local council during your isolation, they will contact you again at the end of your isolation period to offer additional help and support if required.