COVID-19
Even though restrictions have been lifted, you should do all you can to keep yourself and others safe.
Help us to continue to disrupt the transmission of the virus by:
- self-isolating when you feel unwell
- keeping up to date with your vaccinations
Continuing with protective behaviours is important and will help to minimise exposure to and spread of COVID-19, as well as other respiratory infections and other diseases
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, there are things that everyone in your family can do to help. These include:
- Washing hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- Using hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- Washing hands as soon as they get home
- Covering their mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not their hands) when they cough or sneeze
- Putting used tissues in the bin immediately and washing hands afterwards
What you should do if you have symptoms of COVID-19
If you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, you should self-isolate and take a lateral flow test (LFT)
You can order LFTs online or call 119 between 7am and 11pm (calls are free). Continue to self-isolate until you get your LFT test result. The main symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- a high temperature
- a continuous cough
- loss or change of taste or smell
If you have a negative LFT test
You can leave self-isolation immediately.
If you test positive on any COVID-19 test (PCR or LFT)
- You should self-isolate for 5 full days. Day 1 is the day after your symptoms started or the day after you had the test, if you do not have symptoms (whichever is earlier).
- Take a lateral flow test (LFT) on day 5.
If the day 5 LFT is negative
- Report your LFT result to WG and to the school - https://bit.ly/3HVNbQR
- You should take another LFT on day 6.
- If your day 6 is also negative and you do not have a high temperature, you can leave self-isolation on day 6 as the risk you are still infectious is much lower and you can safely return to your normal routine.
- If you still have a high temperature or feel unwell, you should continue to self-isolate until it returns to normal, or you feel better.
If the day 5 or 6 LFT test is positive
- Report your LFT result.
- You should continue taking daily LFTs until you get 2 negative tests in a row, taken a day apart, or until day 10 – whichever is sooner.
- You do not need a negative LFT test on day 10 to leave self-isolation.
- If you still have a high temperature or feel unwell, you should continue to self-isolate until it returns to normal, or you feel better.
If you do not have symptoms but you test positive
You may be advised to take a PCR or LFT as part of workplace arrangements.
If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 (within the last 90 days) you should take a LFT instead of a PCR. This is because there is a risk that a PCR test may detect residual traces of the virus leftover in your body.
If your test result is positive, you should self-isolate and follow the above self-isolation guidance.
Students sitting GCSE, AS, A Level and vocational examinations
We want to enable students to take their exams, well and safely.
- If you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, you should self-isolate and take a lateral flow test (LFT).
- If the test is positive, you should self-isolate for at least 3 full days. Day 1 is the day after your symptoms started. Please report your result.
- On day 3, if your symptoms have stopped, take a LFT. If that test is negative, take another LFT on day 4.
- If your day 4 test is also negative, and you feel well and do not have a high temperature, you can leave self-isolation to sit your exam. Please report your results.
- If either the test on day 3 or the test on day 4 is positive, you should remain in self-isolation and contact your school or education setting.
- If you still have a high temperature or feel unwell, you should continue to self-isolate until it returns to normal, or you feel better.
- You should continue taking daily LFTs until you get 2 negative tests in a row, taken a day apart, or until day 10 – whichever is sooner. You do not need a negative LFT test on day 10 to leave self-isolation.