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Coronavirus: Should I self-isolate and how do I do it? Coronavirus: What are social distancing and self-isolation?
(3 days later)
More people in the UK should isolate themselves to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced. Everybody in the UK has been asked to stop non-essential contact with other people and avoid all unnecessary travel. This is known as social distancing.
So, what do you need to know about self-isolation and how to do it? It follows people with flu-like symptoms being asked to self-isolate at home, to avoid infecting others.
What is self-isolation? So, what do you need to know about social distancing and self-isolation?
Self-isolation means cutting yourself off from the rest of the world. What is social distancing?
You need to stay at home, not go to work, school or other public places, and avoid public transport or taxis, says Public Health England. Social distancing means trying to avoid contact with other people.
"Common-sense" steps include staying in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened and keeping away from other people in your home. It means spending less time in public places, where a lot of people are around.
Ask for help if you need groceries, other shopping or medication. The government wants:
It's OK to have friends, family or delivery drivers drop off supplies to get you through. Within days, it expects to announce measures for people in at-risk groups to stay at home for 12 weeks. This affects pregnant women, people aged over 70 and those with underlying health conditions.
But you shouldn't have any visitors, PHE says. You can have deliveries left on the doorstep. What is self-isolating?
Do I need to self-isolate? Self-isolating means cutting yourself off from the rest of the world.
From Friday, everyone with flu-like symptoms - defined as a fever of above 37.8C or a persistent cough - is being asked to stay at home for at least seven days. From now on, if one person in a household starts to display flu-like symptoms - defined as a fever of above 37.8C or a persistent cough - everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days.
Anyone who has travelled to an affected area, or who has been in close contact with an infected person, had already been asked to self-isolate for 14 days. He said that meant avoiding leaving the house "even to buy food or essentials", adding people could go out to do exercise, but only at a safe distance from others.
Spending 15 minutes within 2m (6ft) of someone with the virus, or having face-to-face contact, is judged as close contact and a significant risk. The person with the symptoms should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened, and keep away from other people in the home.
Advice for people who have travelled back to the UK from the main affected areas and some other countries has been issued by the government. Full details of the countries concerned and whether you need to self-isolate are available here. They should ask for help for groceries, other shopping or medication, which can be dropped off on the doorstep by friends, family or delivery drivers.
Patients with mild symptoms are being asked to self-isolate at home. But people are being advised not to ring NHS 111 or their GP to report their symptoms unless they are worried. People are being advised not to ring NHS 111 or their GP to report their symptoms unless they are worried.
The Covid-19 disease can cause a fever, cough and breathing problems. It takes five days on average for people to start showing the symptoms.The Covid-19 disease can cause a fever, cough and breathing problems. It takes five days on average for people to start showing the symptoms.
What if someone self-isolating shares a home?What if someone self-isolating shares a home?
If you are self-isolating and share a kitchen, try to avoid using it when other people are there and take your meals back to your room to eat. Clean all the surfaces at home with household cleaning products daily. If someone is self-isolating and shares a kitchen, they should try to avoid using it when other people are there and take meals back to their room to eat. Clean all the surfaces at home with household cleaning products daily.
Although you might not be able to entirely separate yourself from family members or flatmates, the advice is to limit contact as much as possible. Although they might not be able to entirely separate themselves from family members or flatmates, the advice is to limit contact as much as possible.
If possible stay at least 2m (6ft) from other people you live with and sleep alone. Keep away from vulnerable people. If possible, stay at least 2m (6ft) from other people they live with and sleep alone. Keep away from vulnerable people.
People living with someone in isolation should wash their hands often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds - especially after coming into contact with them.People living with someone in isolation should wash their hands often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds - especially after coming into contact with them.
You shouldn't share towels, toiletries or other household items with someone in isolation and they should have a separate bathroom. If that is not possible, the isolated person should use the bathroom last, cleaning it thoroughly afterwards if they are able. Other people shouldn't share towels, toiletries or other household items with someone in isolation, who should have a separate bathroom. If that is not possible, the isolated person should use the bathroom last, cleaning it thoroughly afterwards if they are able.
Any rubbish that the isolated person has been in contact with should be double-bagged and kept. If the person tests positive, you will be told what to do with their waste. Any rubbish that the isolated person has been in contact with should be double-bagged and kept.
Will I still get paid?Will I still get paid?
Workers will get statutory sick pay from the first day off work, not the fourth, to help contain coronavirus, the prime minister has said.Workers will get statutory sick pay from the first day off work, not the fourth, to help contain coronavirus, the prime minister has said.
This means that people who have to self-isolate or who are ill would get an extra £40 to cover the first four days. This would take it up to its usual rate of £94.25 per week.This means that people who have to self-isolate or who are ill would get an extra £40 to cover the first four days. This would take it up to its usual rate of £94.25 per week.
Many casual or agency workers may also be entitled to sick pay but self-employed people are not. Citizens Advice says people on zero-hours contracts can still get sick pay and should ask their employer.Many casual or agency workers may also be entitled to sick pay but self-employed people are not. Citizens Advice says people on zero-hours contracts can still get sick pay and should ask their employer.
In the meantime, the government says you can claim universal credit or employment and support allowance if you're prevented from working for public health reasons.In the meantime, the government says you can claim universal credit or employment and support allowance if you're prevented from working for public health reasons.
If you need to care for a relative or your child's school is closed and you need to look after them at short notice, your employer must give you time off, but it may be unpaid.If you need to care for a relative or your child's school is closed and you need to look after them at short notice, your employer must give you time off, but it may be unpaid.