mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
Why staying at home is very important
It is very important that people with symptoms that may be due to coronavirus
(COVID-19) and their household members stay at home. Staying at home will help
prevent the spread of the virus to family, friends, the wider community, and
particularly those who are clinically extremely
vulnerable.
Controlling the spread of the virus will help us to protect the NHS and save
lives.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) and you live alone you must
remain at home for at least 7 days after the onset of your symptoms (see
ending self-
isolation below). This will reduce the risk of you
infecting others.
If you or anyone in your household has symptoms that may be caused by
coronavirus (COVID-19), then you must avoid contact with other household
members as much as possible.
The other members of your household, including those who do not have any
symptoms, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. You must not
go out even to buy food or other essentials, and any exercise must be taken
within your home. This 14-day period starts from the day when the first person
in your house became ill. There is more information in the ending self-
isolation section below.
Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of
infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
Stay at home
You and everyone else in your household must remain at home. Do not go to
work, school, or public areas, and do not use public transport or taxis.
Nobody should go out even to buy food or other essentials, and any exercise
must be taken within your home.
If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up
medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively,
you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online. Delivery
drivers should not come into your home, so make sure you ask them to leave
items outside for collection.
Further guidance on accessing food and essential supplies is available at
Accessing food and essential
supplies.
If you are unable to work due to coronavirus (COVID-19), please refer to this
guidance from the Department for Work and
Pensions to find out
about the support that is available to you.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
If you have a clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable person living with you
Where possible, arrange for anyone who is clinically
vulnerable or clinically
extremely vulnerable to
move out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of your
home isolation period.
If you cannot arrange for vulnerable people to move out of your home, stay
away from them as much as possible, following the guidance
here. For the clinically
extremely vulnerable please follow the Shielding
guidance.
Those who are clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable should
be supported to take precautions to minimise their contact with other people
in your household, regardless of whether others have symptoms or not. They
should minimise time spent in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and
sitting areas. Any shared spaces should be well ventilated.
If they can, clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable people
should use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. If this is not
possible, consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with the clinically
vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable person using the facilities
first. They should use separate towels from the rest of the household, both
for drying themselves after bathing or showering and when washing their hands.
If they can, clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable members
of the household should have their meals in their own rooms. If you have one,
use a dishwasher to clean and dry the family’s used crockery and cutlery. If
this is not possible, wash them using your usual washing up liquid and warm
water and dry them thoroughly. If the clinically vulnerable or clinically
extremely vulnerable person is using their own utensils, remember to use a
separate tea towel for drying these.
We understand that it will be difficult for some people to separate themselves
from others at home. You must do your very best to follow this guidance and
everyone in your household should regularly wash their hands, avoid touching
their face, and clean frequently touched surfaces.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
Symptoms
The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any
of the following:

a new continuous cough
a high temperature
a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if
you have any of the symptoms above you must stay at home and arrange to have a
test to see if you have COVID-19 – go to
testing to arrange.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
Looking after your wellbeing while staying at home
We know that staying at home for a prolonged period can be difficult,
frustrating and lonely for some people and that you or other household members
may feel low. It can be particularly challenging if you don’t have much space
or access to a garden.
It’s important to remember to take care of your mind as well as your body and
to get support if you need it. Stay in touch with family and friends over the
phone or on social media. There are also sources of support and information
that can help, such as the Every Mind
Matters
website.
Think about things you can do during your time at home. People who have stayed
at home for a week or more have kept themselves busy with activities such as
cooking, reading, online learning and watching films. If you feel well enough
you can take part in light exercise within your home.
Many people find it helpful to remind themselves why what they are doing is so
important. Hopefully, none of your family will experience anything more than
mild symptoms, but some people are badly affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).
By staying home, you are helping to protect your friends and family, and other
people in your community, as well as making sure the NHS does not get
overwhelmed.
There are things that you can do to help make self-isolation easier. These
include:

planning ahead and thinking about what you will need in order to be able to stay at home for the full duration of isolation
talking to your employer, friends and family to ask for their help to access the things you will need while staying at home
thinking about and planning how you can get access to food and other supplies, such as medications, that you will need during this period
asking friends or family to drop off anything you need or ordering supplies online, but make sure these are left outside your home for you to collect
ensuring that you keep in touch with friends and family over the phone or through social media
thinking about things you can do during your time at home. People who have successfully completed a period of staying at home have kept themselves busy with activities such as cooking, reading, online learning and watching films
planning out the full 14 days, such as on a make-shift calendar, which many people find helpful. You may also find it helpful to plan in advance what you will do if, for example, someone in your household were to feel much worse, such as having difficulties breathing
remembering that physical exercise can be good for your wellbeing, when you are feeling better. Look for online classes or courses that can help you take light exercise in your home
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
If you are breastfeeding while infected
There is currently no evidence to suggest that the virus can be transmitted
through breast milk. Infection can be spread to the baby in the same way as to
anyone in close contact with you. The current evidence is that children with
coronavirus (COVID-19) get much less severe symptoms than adults. The benefits
of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of the virus
through breast milk or by being in close contact; however, this will be an
individual decision and can be discussed with your midwife, health visitor or
GP by telephone.
If you or a family member are feeding with formula or expressed milk, you
should sterilise the equipment carefully before each use. You should not share
bottles or a breast pump with someone else.
You can find more information at the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists website.
*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
If you or your family need to seek medical advice
Seek prompt medical attention if your illness or the illness of someone in
your household is worsening. If it’s not an emergency, contact the NHS 111
online coronavirus (COVID-19) service. If you have no
internet access, call NHS 111.
If it is a medical emergency and you need to call an ambulance, dial 999 and
inform the call handler or operator that you or your relative have coronavirus
(COVID-19) symptoms.
All routine medical and dental appointments should usually be cancelled while
you and the family are staying at home. If you are concerned or have been
asked to attend in person within the period you are home isolating, discuss
this with your medical contact first (for example, your GP or dentist, local
hospital or outpatient service), using the number they have provided.
*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
Do not have visitors in your home
Do not invite or allow social visitors, such as other friends or family, to
enter your home. If you want to speak to someone who is not a member of your
household, use the phone or social media.
If you or a family member receive essential care in your home, then carers
should continue to visit. Carers should follow the relevant
guidance to reduce the risk of you passing on the
infection.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
Avoid contact with other members of your household as much as possible
If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), it is important to reduce the
spread of infection to others in your household as much as possible.
You should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window to the outside that
can be opened, separate from other people in your home if this is possible.
Keep the door closed.
Use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household, if available. If you
have to share these facilities, regular cleaning will be required. If a
separate bathroom is not available, consider drawing up a bathroom rota for
washing or bathing. You should use the facilities last, before thoroughly
cleaning the bathroom. You should use separate towels from other household
members, both for drying yourself after bathing or showering and for hand
hygiene purposes.
You should avoid using shared spaces such as kitchens whilst others are
present. Take your meals back to your room to eat. Use a dishwasher (if
available) to clean and dry your used crockery and cutlery. If this is not
possible, wash them by hand using detergent and warm water and dry them
thoroughly, using a separate tea towel.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
Ending self-isolation and household isolation
Ending self-isolation
If you have had symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), then you may end your
self-isolation after 7 days and return to your normal routine if you do not
have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell/taste. If you still
have a high temperature, keep self-isolating until your temperature returns to
normal.
After 7 days, if you just have a cough or anosmia (a loss of, or change in,
your sense of taste or smell), you do not need to continue to self-isolate.
This is because a cough or anosmia can last for several weeks once the
infection has gone. The 7-day period starts from the day when you first became
ill.
If you continue to feel unwell and have not already sought medical advice, you
should use the NHS 111 online coronavirus (COVID-19)
service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS
111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
Will my household be tested if we think we have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms?
Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) must immediately self-isolate
and arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19 – go to
testing to arrange.
If you develop symptoms you may wish to alert the people that you have had
close contact with over the last 48 hours to let them know that you might have
coronavirus (COVID-19) but are waiting for a test result. At this stage, those
people should not self-isolate. Alerting those that you have been in contact
with means they can take extra care in practising social distancing and good
hand and respiratory hygiene. They can also be more alert to any symptoms they
might develop.
People who have tested positive will receive a text, email or phone call
requesting that they log into the NHS Test and Trace website to create a
confidential account where they can record details about their recent close
contacts. If you do not have access to the web, then you will be phoned by a
contact tracer working for the NHS Test and Trace service. The information you
provide will be handled in strict confidence and will enable the NHS Test and
Trace service to contact those people and provide them with advice on whether
they should go into self-isolation. This will help stop the spread of
coronavirus (COVID-19). The people contacted will not be told your identity,
but by alerting them when you first develop symptoms, you can help make sure
that they are prepared for being contacted by the Test and Trace service.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
Laundry
To minimise the possibility of dispersing virus through the air, do not shake
dirty laundry.
Wash items in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. All dirty
laundry can be washed in the same load.
If you do not have a washing machine, wait a further 72 hours after your
duration of isolation has ended when you can then take the laundry to a public
launderette.
Do not share towels, including hand towels and tea towels.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
Face coverings
Used correctly, a face covering may help to protect others by reducing the
transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you have possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) and you live with
others, consider using a face covering inside your home when spending time in
shared parts of the household, in addition to avoiding contact with other
members of the household as much as possible. You must still stay at home for
at least 7 days from when the symptoms started and wearing a face covering
does not replace this.
Further guidance on the use of face
coverings is available along
with instructions on how to make your own face
covering.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
After ending self-isolation and/or household isolation
What to do if you have another episode of coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms
after the end of your first period of self-isolation or household isolation
If you develop new coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms at any point after ending
your first period of staying at home (self-isolation or household isolation)
then you must follow the same guidance on self-
isolation again.
This means you must stay at home for at least 7 days from when your symptoms
started if you live alone and arrange to have a test. If you live in a
household, you must stay at home for at least 7 days from when your symptoms
started, arrange a test for yourself, and all other household members must
stay at home for 14 days.
This will help to ensure that you are continuing to protect others within your
household and in your community by minimising the amount of infection that is
passed on.
If you previously tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and have
another episode of symptoms, do you need to self-isolate again?
If you have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), you will probably have
developed some immunity to the disease. But it cannot be guaranteed that will
happen in all cases, nor exactly for how long that will last.
If you have previously tested positive but develop symptoms again, you must
self-isolate for at least 7 days from onset of symptoms and be tested. If you
live in a household, all other household members must stay at home for 14
days.
If you are concerned about your new possible coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms,
use the NHS 111 online coronavirus (COVID-19) service.
If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial
999.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
For those with learning disabilities, autism or serious mental illness
We are aware that not all these measures will be possible if you, or those you
are living with, have significant conditions such as learning disabilities,
autism or serious mental illness. Please keep following this guidance to the
best of your ability, whilst keeping yourself and those close to you safe and
well, ideally in line with any existing care plans.
Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
While you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things
Cleaning and disposal of waste
When cleaning you should use your usual household products, like detergents
and bleach, as these will be very effective at getting rid of the virus on
surfaces. Clean frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, handrails,
remote controls and tabletops. This is particularly important if you have a
clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable person in the house.
Clean a shared bathroom each time you use it, for example, by wiping the
surfaces you have touched.
Personal waste (such as used tissues) and disposable cleaning cloths can be
stored securely within disposable rubbish bags. These bags should be placed
into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste. This
should be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in your usual
external household waste bin.
Other household waste can be disposed of as normal.
Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)
Going to work
You should travel to work, including to provide voluntary
or charitable services, where you cannot work from home and your workplace is
open.
With the exception of the organisations covered above in the section on
closing businesses and venues, the government has not required any other
businesses to close to the public – it is important for business to carry on.
All workers who cannot work from home should travel to work if their workplace
is open. Sectors of the economy that are allowed to be open should be open –
such as food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution
and scientific research. As soon as practicable, workplaces should be set up
to meet the new COVID-19 secure guidelines. These will keep you as safe as
possible, whilst allowing as many people as possible to resume their
livelihoods. In particular, workplaces should, where possible, ensure
employees can maintain a two-metre distance from others, and wash their hands
regularly.
At all times, workers should follow the guidance on self-
isolation if they or anyone in their household shows coronavirus
symptoms. You should not go into work if you are showing symptoms, or if you
or any of your household are self-isolating. This is consistent with advice
from the Chief Medical Officer.
There is specific guidance in relation to work carried out in people’s
homes – for example by
tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, cleaners, or those
providing paid-for childcare in a child’s home.
Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)
Businesses and venues
For the time being, certain businesses and venues are required by
law to stay closed to the
public. These include:

restaurants and cafes, other than for takeaway
pubs, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs
clothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets (not selling food)
libraries, community centres, and youth centres
indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, gyms, arcades and soft play facilities
some communal places within parks, such as playgrounds and outdoor gyms
places of worship (except for funerals)
hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use, excluding use by those who live in them permanently, those who are unable to return home and critical workers where they need to for work

Food retailers and food markets, hardware stores, garden centres and certain
other retailers can remain open. Other businesses can remain open and their
employees can travel to work, where they cannot work from home. The government
has also allowed outdoor sports facilities – such as tennis and basketball
courts, golf courses and bowling greens – to open, but you should only use
these alone, with members of your household, or with one other person from
outside your household, while keeping two metres apart at all times.
Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)
Communicating with the public
The government will continue to keep the public informed of the impacts of
coronavirus on the UK, and the law and guidance that is in place to protect
the public.
The measures set out will be kept under constant review, and formally
revisited at the end of May. They will be relaxed if the scientific evidence
shows that this is possible. If people begin to act recklessly, which could
impact on the transmission of coronavirus in our communities, further
restrictions will have to be implemented again.