Self-isolating

You will need to self-isolate if you arrive into the UK from certain countries, are contacted by NHS Test and Trace, or think you have Covid-19.

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What self-isolation requires

You must not leave your home if you're self-isolating.

Do not go to campus or work
Do not go on public transport or use taxis
Do not go out to get food and medicine – order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to you
Do not have visitors, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care

When you will need to self-isolate

Here are the reasons why you will need to self-isolate and advice on what to do:

You have Covid-19 symptoms or have tested positive

If you test positive for Covid-19 or have any of the main symptoms you must self-isolate for 10 days and follow the advice of the NHS.

The main symptoms of coronavirus 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

You must read and follow our instructions on what to do if you are ill.

You live with someone who has symptoms or tested positive

If you live with someone who has tested positive you must self-isolate for 10 days.

You must also self-isolate if anyone in your household has one of the main symptoms:

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

Watch this BBC video to help you tell if your symptoms are a cold, flu or Covid-19.

You should get a Covid-19 test.

If you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace

The health service in England is operating a Test and Trace service. If someone tests positive for Covid-19 they are asked who they have been in contact with.

NHS Test and Trace will contact these people and tell them to self-isolate if they are at risk.

More about NHS Test and Trace on nhs.uk.

Arriving from outside the UK

The following applies if you are coming from a country not on the UK travel corridor list.

The UK government requires you to self-isolate on arrival into the UK. You now have two options for this:

Self-isolate for 10 days, which does not need a test
Using the Test to Release scheme, self-isolate for 5 days and then arrange your own PCR Covid-19 test (this is a different test to the one offered on campus). If your result is negative you can stop self-isolating.

See full details about the Test to Release scheme on GOV.UK.

If you live with other people they will not need to self-isolate providing you do not make contact with them and that you do not develop symptoms. There is more about this in our guide.

How long you need to self-isolate for

The nhs.uk website has full instructions on how to long to self-isolate for.

Telling Goldsmiths you are self-isolating

Students

You must contact the tutors of your face-to-face sessions to tell them you are self-isolating and will not be able to attend.

You don't need to inform anyone else at this point. You do need to report to us if you develop symptoms yourself.

Staff

Staff who are feeling well but have been advised to self-isolate should work from home if they can. If they are unable to carry out their role from home will be paid as normal during their period of self-isolation provided they complete

Report your self-isolating by getting an NHS Isolation Note and sending it to your line manager as soon as you are advised to isolate.