What should I do if I have coronavirus?

How will I know if I have coronavirus?

Some people who have coronavirus do not know they have coronavirus. They feel well, or feel as if they have a cold.

A man with coronavirus coughing into his hand

Some people who have coronavirus feel poorly.

Three people looking poorly. One woman has her hand on her head as she has a headache, a man is holding his sore throat and another woman is coughing into her hand

People who have coronavirus may:

have a high temperature
have a cough
lose of have a change in their sense of taste or smell

A woman coughing into her hand and another woman holding her stomach with one hand and her head with the other

People who have coronavirus may:

feel tired
feel sick
have a runny or blocked nose
have a sore throat
find it difficult to breathe

A man having a swab test taken next to a pile of pound notes and change.

If you want to have a test to find out if you have coronavirus, you might have to pay for a test.

A man getting a test over the counter at a chemist shop

You can buy lateral flow tests online and at some chemists.

For more information about coronavirus tests, please read our Coronavirus tests easy read page.

A man in a hospital bed wearing a face mask, being visited by a woman also wearing a face mask

Some people have a health condition which means they are more likely to be very poorly if they have coronavirus.

A man having a swab test with his mouth open next to some money with a red cross through it.

If you are 12 years old or over and have a health condition which means you are more likely to be very poorly, you can have free coronavirus tests.

The list of health conditions which means you are more likely to be very poorly if you have coronavirus are on the government Treatments for coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

A man with Down's syndrome waving and smiling at the camera

The list includes Down's syndrome.

a man with his mouth open about to have a coronavirus swab test

If you have a health condition on the list, you should have been sent some coronavirus tests.

A woman asking a question with her arms out and her palms pointed upwards

You can use the tests to find out if you have coronavirus.

A man with his mouth open about to have a swab test for coronavirus

If you have not been sent the tests, or you have used the tests, you can order some more tests:

online on the government 's 'Order coronavirus rapid lateral flow tests' page
by phoning 119

A man about to have a swab test next to some money with a red cross over it

Some people who work in social care can also have free coronavirus tests.

You can read more about which people who work in social care can have free coronavirus tests on the government's Testing for adult social care services page.

What should I do if I have coronavirus, a cold or flu?

This is a guide to what the government have said is a good idea to do if you have coronavirus, a cold or flu...

A coronavirus test kit next to a mobile phone displaying a blue tick

If you have a positive result from a coronavirus test,

Three people feeling poorly. One with her hand on her forehead, another woman coughing and a man holding his throat

or you think you might have coronavirus, a cold, or flu, and:

A man and woman both looking unwell standing in front of a thermometer which shows a high temperature

you have a high temperature, or
do not feel well enough to do the things you usually do

A woman looking out of her kitchen window

you should try to stay at home.

Three people sitting on different chairs in a lounge. This picture has a red cross beside it.

You should try to stay away from other people who live with you.

A man lying in a hospital bed and wearing a face covering. He has a female visitor next to his bed who is also wearing a face covering

You should try to stand away from people who are more likely to be very poorly if they have coronavirus, a cold, or flu.

A girl feeling poorly lying in her bed wearing a fluffy dressing gown

You should drink plenty of water and rest.

Try to work from home if you can.

If you can not work from home, you should talk to your manager about what you should do.

A receptionist at a desk on the phone in front of a computer screen

If you have any dental or medical appointments, you should contact the place you are going and tell them about the symptoms you have.

If you have had a positive result from a coronavirus test, tell the place you are going about your result.

A doctor sitting at his desk talking to a patient

They will decide whether it is a good idea to change the date of the appointment.

A man sitting at a laptop ordering shopping online

If you need any food or shopping, you might want to order it online.

A woman pushing a shopping trolley full of shopping bags

You might want to ask family, friends, or people who help you, to do your shopping.

Three people sitting on different chairs in a lounge. The picture of them has a red cross beside it

What should I do if I live with other people?

If you live with other people, you should try to keep away from the people you live with.

If you need to use rooms that other people use:

wear a face covering if you can when you are in the room

open the windows when you are in the room

leave the windows open for at least 10 minutes after you have been in the room

It is also a good idea to:

cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze

Cleaning wipes in front of a light switch and two taps

clean things which other people will touch, like light switches, taps and door handles

clean rooms which other people use, like the kitchen or the bathroom

A pair of hands washing with hand soap in front of a stop watch showing 20 seconds

Wash you hands for 20 seconds after:
coughing
sneezing
blowing your nose

and before cooking or eating.

What should I do if I go out while I am poorly?

If you go out while you are poorly, you should stay away from people who are more likely to be very poorly if they have coronavirus, a cold, or flu.

A woman feeling poorly with her hand on her head

You are less likely to make other people poorly if you:

wear a face covering when you are out

stay away from places where there are lots of people, especially if it is indoors

A woman in a wheelchair on a train beside a red cross

do not use public transport

exercise outdoors, away from other people

A woman touching her face behind a red cross

try not to touch your face

cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze

A pair of hands washing in soap in front of a stop watch which displays 20 seconds

wash your hands for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitiser after:
coughing
sneezing
blowing your nose

A coronavirus test kit next to a phone which displays a blue tick

How long should I try to stay at home and away from other people?

If you had a positive result from a coronavirus test,

A calendar showing five consecutive days circled in red

you should try to stay way from other people for at least 5 days after you took the test.

After 5 days, you should stay at home and away from other people until you feel better, or you no longer have a high temperature.

A coronavirus test kit next to a phone displaying a blue tick

If you had a positive result from a coronavirus test,

A calendar page showing 10 consecutive days circled in red

you should stay away from people who are more likely to be very poorly for 10 days after your test.

A man about to have a coronavirus swab test

If you did not take a coronavirus test,

A coronavirus test kit next to a phone which displays a blue cross

or had a negative test result but feel as if you might have a cold or flu,

you should try to stay at home and away from other people until you feel better, or no longer have a high temperature.

What should I do if I am 18 or under and think I might have coronavirus, a cold or flu?

If you are 10 or under and had a positive result from a coronavirus test,

A page in a calendar showing 3 consecutive days circled in red

you should try to stay at home for 3 days after the test.

Three people sitting on 3 different chairs in a lounge beside a red cross

You should try to stay away form other people.

A man and woman who are looking poorly are in front of a high temperature chart

If you have not had a coronavirus test and you feel poorly, or have a high temperature,

A young man wearing a baseball hat with both thumbs up

you should try to stay at home until you feel better.

If you have not had a coronavirus test and you have symptoms, but you feel okay, you can go to nursery, school, or college.

A woman looking poorly with her hand on her head

What will happen if I need other people to helpme?

If other people help you to do things at home, let them know about your symptoms.

If you have had a coronavirus test, let the people who help you at home know your test result.

For more information about what to do if you think you might have coronavirus, go to the government's People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19 page.