Current guidance is that, if one person becomes unwell, they should self-isolate for seven days. If they live in a household, they must isolate for up to 14 days.
The example below is an easy way to explain this:
A four-person household contains a mother, father, son and daughter.
If the mother develops a continuous cough and high temperature, she should stay at home for seven days. The rest of the household needs to stay at home for 14 days.
Three days later, the daughter becomes ill. She needs to stay at home for seven days before being able to return to normal if she no longer has symptoms. The father and son do not develop symptoms and so must complete 14 days isolation before returning to normal.
Get an isolation note
Please use this service if you have to stay at home due to coronavirus and need a note for your employer www.111.nhs.uk/isolation-note
If you have to stay at home but feel well enough to work, ask your employer if you can work from home. If you can work from home, you will not need an isolation note.
You can also use this service on behalf of someone else.