Help reduce the spread of the coronavirus by following government advice. If you need any information on COVID-19 and cannot use the website you can ring 111 free of charge.
Key messages: reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19
The global pandemic is not yet over. Although the government has removed the remaining domestic restrictions in England there are still steps you can take to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19.
- There is no longer a legal requirement for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) infection to self-isolate. However, if you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test result, the public health advice is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 days and then continue to follow the guidance until you've received 2 negative test results on consecutive days.
- The government recommends you take up the offer of getting your vaccinations including the booster dose.
- You are not required by law to wear a face covering. However, we recommend you consider wearing face coverings to protect both yourself and others against the spread of infection. This is particularly in crowded places where people are more vulnerable for example care homes and GP surgeries.
Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19
Vaccination programme
Read about the vaccine, what you need to do and what will happen on the day of your appointment.
Education settings
Testing children: from 1 April 2022, routine testing will no longer be expected in all education and children’s social care settings. In the event of an outbreak, a local health protection team may advise some targeted outbreak testing in residential SEND settings.
School risk assessments: schools must comply with health and safety law and put in place proportionate control measures. Schools must regularly review and update their risk assessments - treating them as ‘living documents’- as the circumstances in the school and the public health advice changes. This includes having active arrangements in place to monitor whether the controls are effective and working as planned.
Information and advice mainly from GOV.UK and NHS.UK
There are several information sources covering a range of different topics. You may need to use more than one of these websites to help keep you stay safer.
- Coronavirus; comprehensive information on GOV.UK- it includes testing, protecting yourself and others, employment and financial support, school closures, education, childcare, information for businesses, healthcare workers and carers, and more.
- Living with COVID-19
- NHS – how to wash your hands - handwashing still plays a key role in protecting yourself and others. Wash your hands regularly, use soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser and make sure you store hand sanitiser safely out of reach of children.
- Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable - the shielding programme has ended. If you were previously identified as clinically extremely vulnerable, you are advised to continue to follow the guidance that is in place for everyone.
- Health information and advice from nhs.uk - helping you take control of your health and wellbeing.
- Health and wellbeing resources for you and your family - domestic violence, mental health and guidance to look after the health of yourself and your family and more.