What to Do if a Member of Your Family Tests Positive for Covid

Coronavirus (COVID-xix): Guidance for individuals with possible coronavirus infection

Self-isolating when you lot are asked to is the best way to preclude the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). It'south very important that y'all stay at home (self-isolate) if:

y'all have symptoms of coronavirus
you've had a positive lateral flow device (LFD) or polymerase concatenation reaction (PCR) test effect
you've been told to self-isolate considering you're a close contact of a positive case

When and how long to cocky-isolate due to coronavirus

Utilize this guide to find out if you demand to self-isolate and for how long.

Cocky-assist guide

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What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

The most common symptoms are new:

continuous coughing
fever/loftier temperature (37.8C or greater)
loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste (anosmia)

A new continuous cough is where you:

have a new cough that's lasted for an hour
accept had 3 or more episodes of cough in 24 hours
are coughing more than usual

A loftier temperature is feeling hot to the affect your chest or back (you don't need to measure your temperature). Y'all may feel warm, cold or shivery.

Self-isolation if you take coronavirus

If you have symptoms, y'all should self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test. If you examination positive, you should self-isolate for x days from the date your symptoms started.

If yous've had a positive PCR or LFD exam outcome but no symptoms, you should self-isolate for 10 days from the date of your test. You may go on to develop symptoms over the next few days, but you don't need a confirmatory PCR exam, unless advised past a clinician, and you don't need to re-start your isolation period. If you develop any of the main symptoms of coronavirus and y'all are concerned, or your symptoms are worsening, phone 111 or speak to your GP. In an emergency phone 999.

You may still have a cough or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste for several weeks. People with symptoms are very unlikely to infect others after the tenth day of disease. One time y'all've completed your x day cocky-isolation, you lot tin render to piece of work and your usual activities (regardless of your LFD result) as long equally y'all feel better and practice non take a loftier temperature. You must continue to follow the Scottish Regime's coronavirus advice.

Ending self-isolation early

You may be able to stop self-isolation early if you have two negative LFD test results in a row from 24-hour interval 6 onwards, taken 24 hours autonomously. For example, a negative LFD test result on day 6 and seven, 24-hour interval vii and 8, or day 8 and nine. You lot should report your LFD examination result after taking each test, regardless of the upshot. To be able to cease self-isolation, you should also make certain you:

do not have a loftier temperature
follow the guidance for staying rubber when y'all've ended self-isolation

You should non take an LFD test before day 6 of your self-isolation catamenia.

You should only end cocky-isolation subsequently 2 negative LFD test results in a row.

This guidance applies regardless of age, vaccination condition or previous infection.

If you go on to test positive on LFD tests, or choose not to accept LFD tests to end cocky-isolation early on, you can return to work and your usual activities on the 11th solar day subsequently your symptoms started, as long as yous feel better and do non accept a high temperature.

If you're yet testing positive during a period of isolation and, rightly, reporting the positive exam results, yous may receive repeated isolation information from Test and Protect. You should not restart your isolation period, instead, you should continue to follow the communication you received post-obit your get-go positive test.

Support available

If you're told to self-isolate by Test and Protect you lot may be eligible for a £500 Cocky-Isolation Back up Grant. If yous have tested positive on a LFD test, yous need a confirmatory positive PCR exam result to utilize for the grant.

Book a PCR examination

National Assistance Helpline

If your friends or family are non able to help, telephone the National Assistance Helpline (0800 111 4000).

This helpline is just for those who accept to stay at home but can't get the help they need through friends or family.

If yous've tested positive in the last 28 days

If you've tested positive, yous should pause routine LFD testing for 28 days after self-isolating. Count the 28 days from the day your symptoms started, or the date of your positive test if you lot didn't have symptoms. If you're identified as a shut contact during this time, yous do not need to examination or self-isolate as long every bit you do not have whatever new symptoms, regardless of vaccination status. If you practise develop new symptoms, self-isolate and book a PCR test.

Self-isolation if yous're a shut contact

You may be a close contact if you:

alive with someone who has tested positive – for example you sleep in the same dwelling house or live in shared adaptation like academy halls
have spent eight hours or more in the home of the person who has tested positive during their infectious period – for instance a sleepover
are a cleaner (not using PPE) who cleans the home of the person who has tested positive, even if you did not spend time with them
have had face up-to-face contact less than i metre apart from the person who has tested positive for any length of fourth dimension
have had any contact less than 1 metre apart from the person who tested positive for 1 minute or longer
have been within 2 metres of the person who tested positive for more than 15 minutes
motorcar-shared with the person who tested positive

If y'all alive with someone who tests positive, y'all should follow the guidance for shut contacts from when their symptoms started, or from when they tested positive if they don't take symptoms.

If you lot're non sure if you're a close contact, or if you need advice most shut contacts, y'all tin telephone call the National Contact Tracing Centre on 0800 030 8012. Interpreter services and contactScotland-BSL are available.

The infectious period is any time from two days before any i of the iii main symptoms starts and up to 10 days afterward. If the person who tested positive does non have symptoms, their close contacts are counted from 2 days before the date of their positive test and up to ten days after.

Close contacts who are fully vaccinated

If you lot're a close contact who is fully vaccinated, you can take daily LFD tests instead of self-isolating. Fully vaccinated ways you've received 3 doses of an approved vaccine at to the lowest degree 14 days before y'all last saw the person who tested positive. If you live with the person who tested positive, the xiv days is counted from the 24-hour interval their symptoms started, or 14 days before they tested positive if they don't have symptoms. The daily LFD tests should be taken for 7 days in a row or until the end of your 10 day self-isolation flow, whichever is soonest.

Equally a shut contact, if you develop the chief symptoms of coronavirus you should immediately self-isolate and book a PCR test. If this is negative keep to take daily LFD tests for vii days or the duration of your cocky-isolation menstruum which ever is soonest. If this is positive then you lot need to self-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms started. You lot may be able to end self-isolation early.

If any of your LFD tests are positive, you should cocky-isolate for 10 days from the date of your positive test outcome. You do non need to volume a follow-up PCR exam to ostend your positive LFD result.

Close contacts who are not fully vaccinated

If you're a close contact who is not fully vaccinated, you should self-isolate for 10 days and volume a PCR exam. Even if your test result is negative, you should consummate the 10 day cocky-isolation.

If you lot've had a positive PCR examination result in the last 90 days, yous do not demand to book another PCR test unless you lot develop new symptoms.

If you lot cannot exist vaccinated for medical reasons, you lot should follow the guidance for close contacts who are fully vaccinated.

If you're taking part in a registered clinical vaccine trial which means you cannot be fully vaccinated, you can follow the guidance for fully vaccinated close contacts.

Close contacts aged nether 18 years and 4 months

Close contacts aged under xviii years and 4 months can take daily LFD tests instead of self-isolating. The daily LFD tests should be taken for vii days in a row or until the stop of your 10 day self-isolation period, whichever is soonest.

Equally a close contact, if you develop the primary symptoms of coronavirus yous should immediately self-isolate and book a PCR test. If this is negative continue to take daily LFD tests for 7 days or the elapsing of your self-isolation period which ever is soonest. If this is positive then yous need to cocky-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms started. Y'all may be able to end self-isolation early.

If any of your LFD tests are positive, yous should self-isolate for 10 days from the engagement of your positive test effect. You do not demand to book a follow-up PCR examination to confirm your positive LFD result.

'Depression risk' contacts aged under 18 years and 4 months

You may receive a notification to tell you that yous or your child is a 'low hazard' contact. Notifications are unremarkably sent by schools or nurseries to children who have shared a classroom with someone who has tested positive.

Depression risk contacts do not need to self-isolate, book a PCR examination or accept daily LFD tests. They should follow the advice in the notification to take extra precautions, including regular LFD testing.

Children under 5

Children under v who are close contacts do not need to self-isolate or take daily LFD tests, merely are recommended to take a test.

If the child under 5 has symptoms or develops symptoms and so they should take a PCR exam.

If you lot're unable to take LFD tests for a medical reason

If you or someone yous intendance for is identified equally a contact just have been advised past a medical professional that you or they are unable to do take LFD tests for a medical reason, this should be discussed with Test and Protect when they contact yous.

Staying prophylactic if yous've ended cocky-isolation

If you're someone who can end self-isolation, yous should:

limit close contact with other people exterior your household, especially in enclosed spaces, for ten days
wear a confront covering in enclosed spaces and where you cannot maintain physical distancing
limit contact with anyone who is at highest risk for 10 days
not visit people in care homes, hospitals, prisons or other detention centres for ten days, unless essential and agreed with staff in accelerate
keep to have part in twice weekly lateral menstruation device (LFD) testing later the 10 days

If you lot've tested positive, count the 10 days from the date your symptoms started, or the engagement of your examination if you lot do not have symptoms. If you're a shut contact, count the 10 days from the appointment of your last contact with the positive instance.

How to self-isolate

Do

ask others for help to make sure you can stay at habitation
inquire your employer, friends or family to assist you get the things you need
stay at least 2 metres (nigh three steps) abroad from other people in your home whenever possible
sleep alone if possible
wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds regularly
stay away from the elderly and those with underlying wellness weather as much as possible
consider whether older people and those with underlying health conditions can stay in another house while you demand to stay at home
contact carers to tell them you're self-isolating so they can follow the correct procedures to prevent spread of the infection
keep in touch on with friends and family by phone or through social media
postpone whatever non-essential healthcare appointments – for example medical, dental or optician appointments

Self-isolation means you lot should stay at home. You shouldn't become to work, school, public areas or employ public send. Y'all shouldn't go out to purchase food or other essentials.

Avoid close contact with others past:

non having visitors
not using taxis or public ship
request a friend or neighbour to go your shopping or arranging for a delivery to be left at your door
not sharing towels, apparel, toothbrushes or razors

What you lot can do to help yourself get better

Read our advice on treating coronavirus symptoms at home

Wash your hands regularly

Wash your easily with soap and water for 20 seconds regularly. This volition assist protect you and others effectually you from passing on whatever infection. You tin can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if your hands aren't visibly dirty.

Dry your easily using a split towel from other people.

Avoid touching your optics, nose and oral cavity.

Encompass your coughs and sneezes

Comprehend your nose and mouth with disposable tissues when you lot cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough into the crook of your elbow and not in your hand.

Dispose of your tissues in a dispensable rubbish bag and wash your easily immediately with soap and water or apply a manus sanitiser.

Stay away from others

Carve up yourself from other people in your home and keep the door closed. If y'all tin't stay in a split up room, try to stay ii metres (3 steps) away from the other people.

Stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that tin can exist opened. Effort to keep the window open as much as possible to help with ventilation and air flow. This will help to go along clean air moving through your room.

Each person should:

sleep in a dissimilar bed where possible
employ their ain toothbrushes, towels, linen, cups, plates, bowls and cutlery
take meals to their own room to eat

Shared living spaces

Spend as footling time as possible in your kitchen, bathrooms and sitting areas and go along these areas well ventilated. This is peculiarly important if you, or your family members, are at higher risk.

If you tin, use a separate bathroom from the residue of the household. If y'all share a kitchen, avoid using it while others are present.

If you share a toilet and bathroom wipe any surfaces you lot come up in contact with and clean it after every use.

Utilise a dishwasher if you have one. If yous don't have a dishwasher, launder your plates and cutlery using washing up liquid and warm h2o. Then dry out them thoroughly with a separate tea towel.

Collecting shopping and prescriptions

If possible, ask a friend or family fellow member to run errands on your behalf. For example buying groceries, picking up prescriptions or walking your dog.

You can also order your shopping online, but ask them to go out items outside or past your front door. The delivery commuter should not come into your habitation.

Pharmacies can often arrange to deliver repeat prescriptions if you run out while you lot remain at dwelling. Other people tin can collect a prescription on your behalf.

Cleaning products

Clean all surfaces every day with a household cleaner that's agile against viruses and bacteria. Pay special attention to ofttimes touched areas. Usual household products like detergents and bleach are constructive.

Wash your hands with soap and water later on cleaning surfaces and handling wearable and bedding.

Waste disposal

Y'all can put personal waste (such as used tissues) and disposable cleaning cloths in disposable rubbish bags. These should be:

placed into another bag
tied securely
kept dissever from other waste product in your room
put bated for at least 72 hours before being put in your usual external household waste product bin

Other household waste can exist disposed of every bit normal.

Laundry

Don't shake dirty laundry every bit this can spread the virus through the air.

Wash laundry using the highest temperature setting on the characterization. Where possible, wash laundry separately from other people living in your household.

If you lot don't have a washing machine, await a further 3 days after your cocky-isolation period has ended to take your laundry to a launderette.

If you live with someone at higher run a risk

Family members at higher risk should spend every bit footling time as possible in shared spaces such every bit kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas. You should proceed these spaces well ventilated.

The person at college risk should, where possible:

go on 2 metres (3 steps) abroad from y'all and others in your household
sleep in a unlike bed
apply a separate bathroom from the rest of the household
utilize separate towels from the other people in your house
have their meals back to their room to eat

The balance of the household should:

clean whatever shared toilets and bathrooms every time you use them, for example wiping surfaces you have come into contact with
consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with the college risk person using the facilities commencement
avoid using the kitchen while they are present.
use a dishwasher to clean and dry the family unit'due south used crockery and cutlery
wash them using your usual washing up liquid and warm water if you lot don't have a dishwasher
dry all crockery and cutlery thoroughly, and use a divide tea towel if the higher risk person is using their own utensils

If yous alive with a higher adventure person and it's non possible to physically distance from them, phone the National Assistance Helpline (0800 111 4000) to discuss your needs.

Tardily stages of pregnancy

If y'all recollect yous're in labour, phone your maternity unit and tell them you think you lot're in labour but accept been self-isolating. They'll be able to advise you lot what to do next.

We have more than detailed coronavirus guidance for people who are pregnant

Breastfeeding

Read our advice on breastfeeding if you take coronavirus

Face masks

If you have a carer who visits your habitation, they need to wear protective equipment to reduce the risk of infection. It'south recommended you wear a face up mask besides.

If necessary, your local carer's eye can provide protective equipment to your carer.

Observe a carer middle in your area

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Source: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-individuals-with-possible-coronavirus-infection