Protecting people around you if you have symptoms

What to do if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, and have not taken a COVID-19 test

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you no longer feel unwell.
It is particularly important to avoid close contact with anyone who you know is at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell if they are infected with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, especially those whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness, despite vaccination.
Try to work from home if you can. If you are unable to work from home, talk to your employer about options available to you.
If you have been asked to attend a medical or dental appointment in person, contact your healthcare provider and let them know about your symptoms.
You may wish to ask friends, family or neighbours to get food and other essentials for you.

What to do if you have a positive COVID-19 test result

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people

If you have a positive COVID-19 test result, it is very likely that you have COVID-19 even if you do not have any symptoms. You can pass on the infection to others, even if you have no symptoms.
Many people with COVID-19 will no longer be infectious to others after five days. If you have a positive COVID-19 test result, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test. There is different advice for children and young people aged 18 and under.
During this period there are actions you can take to reduce the risk of passing COVID-19 on to others.
Try to work from home if you can. If you are unable to work from home, talk to your employer about options available to you.
If you have been asked to attend a medical or dental appointment in person, contact your healthcare provider and let them know about your positive test result.
You may wish to ask friends, family or neighbours to get food and other essentials for you.
At the end of this period, if you have a high temperature or feel unwell, try to follow this advice until you feel well enough to resume normal activities and you no longer have a high temperature if you had one.

For full advice see the government website.