Good hygiene
Although the Government has removed the remaining domestic restrictions, there are a number of ways to reduce the risk of catching and spreading Covid-19. The best way to protect yourself and your family from Covid-19 is by practicing good respiratory and hand hygiene. The latest advice from Public Health England is to:
Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds each time with soap and water or hand sanitiser, especially when you:
- Get home or into work
- Blow your nose, sneeze or cough
- Eat or handle food
Other steps to prevent catching Covid-19 include:
- getting vaccinated
- when meeting indoors let fresh air in, or meet people outside
- in crowded and enclosed spaces consider wearing a face mask
Symptoms
Although you are no longer required by law to self-isolate if you have Covid-19, you should still stay at home and avoid contact with other people to reduce the chance of passing on the virus to others. Stay at home if you have:
- a high temperature
- a new continuous cough
- loss/change in your normal sense of smell or taste
- tested positive for Covid-19
You should stay at home while you are infectious to others. For details of how long you should stay at home visit the NHS website.
If you receive a positive result from a lateral flow device (LFD) for Coronavirus, you can report your positive result on the GOV.UK website.
Living with Coronavirus
The Government has gradually lifted restrictions throughout January and has set out a plan for living with Coronavirus.
19 January
The Government is no longer asking people to work from home if they can. Speak to your employer about returning to the workplace safely, and view the Working safely guidance.
20 January
Face coverings will no longer be advised to be used in classrooms for staff and pupils.
27 January
- Venues and events will no longer be required to use the NHS Covid Pass
- Face coverings are no longer required by law in any setting. Public health guidance suggests that individuals should wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces
- The Department for Education will remove national guidance on the use of face coverings in communal areas
View the GOV.UK website for further details.
Useful websites
- Government guidance on shielding and protecting extremely vulnerable people
- Get Coronavirus support as an extremely vulnerable person
- Government guidance about safer travel for passengers