How long to self-isolate

Self-isolate for at least 7 days

You must self-isolate for at least 7 days if:

• you have symptoms of coronavirus and tested positive, had an unclear result or did not have a test
• you tested positive but have not had symptoms

The 7 days starts from when your symptoms started. If you have not had symptoms, the 7 days starts from when you had the test.

Stop self-isolating after 7 days if you feel OK

You can stop self-isolating after 7 days if either:

• you do not have any symptoms
• you just have a cough or changes to your sense of smell or taste – these can last for weeks after the infection has gone

Keep self-isolating if you feel unwell

Keep self-isolating if you have any of these symptoms after 7 days:

• a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery
• a runny nose or sneezing
• feeling or being sick
• diarrhoea
• loss of appetite

Only stop self-isolating when these symptoms have gone.

If you have diarrhoea or you’re being sick, stay at home until 48 hours after they've stopped.

Self-isolate for 14 days

You must self-isolate for 14 days if you live with (or are in a support bubble with) someone who:

• has symptoms of coronavirus and tested positive, had an unclear result or did not have a test
• tested positive but has not had symptoms

The 14 days starts from:

• when the first person in your home or support bubble started having symptoms
• the day they were tested, if they have not had symptoms

This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear.

Stop self-isolating after 14 days if you do not get symptoms

You can stop self-isolating after 14 days if you do not get any symptoms.

Keep self-isolating and get a test if you get symptoms

Get a test to check if you have coronavirus if you get symptoms while you're self-isolating.

If your test is negative, you must keep self-isolating for the rest of the 14 days.

If your test is positive, you must self-isolate for 7 days from when your symptoms started. This might mean you're self-isolating for longer than 14 days overall.

If you’ve been in close contact with someone who has coronavirus, you may get a text, email or call from the NHS Test and Trace service.

They may tell you to self-isolate for 14 days.

Find out what to do if you're told you've been in contact with a person with coronavirus.