Quarantine and short stays with family in UK
If I go to stay with family in the UK for a short stay such as a long weekend, can I self-isolate with them under the UK’s quarantine rules? Do they also need to self-isolate in this case?
The short answer to this is, yes you can, and no they do not.
People visiting the UK may stay with friends or family, in a second home should they have one in the UK, or in a hotel or other temporary accommodation.
Wherever you are staying, you should go there as soon as possible after arrival, and use private transport if possible.
If you use public transport you should wear a mask or scarf to cover your mouth and nose and stay two metres away from other people. You should not use public transport at all if you have coronavirus symptoms.
If you have a long journey to the place you are staying and require an overnight stop, this is possible, but you should provide the address of this overnight stop on your quarantine form.
Wherever you stay you are not supposed to have visitors unless they are providing essential care because you have an illness or disability or other health condition.
You may however have contact with the people you travelled to the UK with or the people you are staying with.
The people you are staying with do not have to self-isolate if they did not travel with you, unless you develop Covid-19 symptoms, but you are asked to be careful and minimise contact with them and time spent in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting rooms.
It is preferable for you to have your own bathroom if available and you should ensure you always use a separate towel.
If sharing the bathroom, then it should be cleaned each time someone uses it, official UK government advice states.
It is preferable to stay in your own room as much as possible and that it should be well-ventilated, with a window that can be opened to the outside. However you can also go out into a garden.
Everyone should wash their hands regularly and / or use sanitiser.
People staying in a hotel or guest house are meant to stay two metres away from other guests and staff at all times and avoid shared areas like bars, restaurants and sports facilities.
Self-isolation means you are not even supposed to go out for a walk or for shopping, though you can go out for ‘basic necessities’ such as food and medicine if no one else can get these for you and you cannot have them delivered.
NHS Volunteer Responders may be able to help collect shopping or medication or are there if you feel you need to ‘chat’. They can be contacted on 0808 196 3646 (8:00 to 20:00).
Other exceptions to the obligation to stay inside include getting urgent medical assistance, going to a funeral of a close relative, a legal obligation or an ‘emergency’.
You should not change your place of self-isolation unless there are exceptional circumstances.
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