Restrictions - updated 4 January

The Prime Minister has this evening announced that England is being put into National lockdown with immediate effect. You must stay at home. 

Read the Government Guidance for the National lockdown.

Other guidance to help you stay safe

• Stay at home if you or anyone in your household has any symptoms of Coronavirus 
• Wash your hands regularly using soap and water and carry hand sanitiser when you go out
• Keep 2m distance from people not in your household
• Keep rooms well-ventilated. Open doors and windows for 15 minutes twice a day to freshen the air, if you can do so, making sure you keep yourself and your children safe
• Avoid handshakes and embracing when meeting others 
• Wherever possible, do your shopping online, pre-book appointments and use contactless payments

Getting tested for Coronavirus

If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus, you need to get a test. 

The main symptoms are:

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
   
• Find out how to get a test

When to self-isolate

Remember, if you have symptoms, or you test positive for COVID-19, you need to self-isolate for 10 days.

If you live with someone who has symptoms, or who has tested positive for COVID-19, you also need to self-isolate for 10 days.

• Back to the Coronavirus homepage