Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Guidance is still in place – read the government’s advice on how to stay safe and prevent the spread

COVID-19 remains a risk – you can still catch and spread the virus, even if you are fully vaccinated. Keep following the guidance to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

• Test and isolate: If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate immediately and get a PCR test, even if your symptoms are mild. You should self-isolate at home while you get a PCR test and wait for the results. You must self-isolate if you test positive or you are told to do so by NHS Test and Trace. You must self-isolate from the day your symptoms started and the next 10 full days, or from the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms and the next 10 full days.
• When symptom-free, you should use rapid lateral flow tests regularly to increase the chances of detecting COVID-19 when you are infections but are not displaying symptoms. You should also take a rapid lateral flow test if you expect to spend time in a high risk environment during your day, particularly if you are visiting people who are at higher risk of severe illness if they were infected with COVID-19. Find out more.
• Get vaccinated: The vaccines are safe and effective. Getting fully vaccinated is the best way of protecting you and others against COVID-19. If you have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, you should get vaccinated – there is no time limit on getting vaccinated.
• Use the NHS COVID-19 app: The app helps stop the spread of the virus by informing you that you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. It can be used to check into venues with an NHS QR code. Download and use the latest version of the app.
• Wear a face covering when required:COVID-19 spreads through the air by droplets and aerosols that are exhaled from the nose and mouth of an infected person. From 4am on Tuesday 30 November most people will be required to wear a face covering in public enclosed spaces including shops and supermarkets, personal care settings like hair salons, barbers or nail salons and takeaways, as well as on public transport and in transport hubs like rail and bus stations. You can find full details on the government’s website, including who is exempt from wearing face coverings.
• Ventilation: Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer. You can let in fresh air by uncovering vents and opening doors and windows. Opening your windows for just 10 minutes, or a small amount of time continuously where you can, makes a significant difference. This is particularly important before, during and after meeting people you do not live with indoors.
• Wash your hands and cover coughs and sneezes: Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day. Regular hand washing is an effective way to reduce your risk of catching illnesses, including COVID-19. Where possible, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you do need to touch your face, for example to put on or take off your face covering, wash or sanitise your hands before and after.
• Stay home if you’re unwell: If you feel unwell but do not have COVID-19 symptoms, or your COVID-19 test is negative, you may still have an illness which could be passed on to other people. Staying at home until you feel better reduces the risk that you will pass on an illness to your friends, colleagues, and others in your community.
• Socialise safely: As there’s still a risk you could catch or pass on the virus (even if you’re fully vaccinated), you should be cautions and consider the risks when meeting people you do not usually live with. You might choose to limit close contact, or use lateral flow tests before and after being in close contact with others.

Travelling (within the UK or abroad)

Domestic travel:

• Face coverings are, unless exempt, a legal requirement on public transport from 4am Tuesday 30 November. This includes trains, buses, coaches, ferries, hovercraft and, taxis and private hire vehicles. Face coverings must also be worn in transport hubs railway stations, ports and, bus and coach stations. For further information on where it is law to wear a face covering visit Face coverings when to wear one and how to make your own
• Travel safely and plan your journeys – sanitise hands, wear a face covering where required, and keep your distance where possible.
• If travelling to countries within the UK, check the Covid-19 rules of the country you are visiting

International travel:

• If you live in England, you should not travel to countries or territories on the red list. If you are due to travel to England from a country or territory on the red list please read the current requirements (Red list of countries and territories – GOV.UK)
• From 4am Tuesday 30 November, international arrivals from non-red list countries who are fully vaccinated will need to isolate at home and take a PCR test on or before day 2 following your arrival. You are only permitted to leave isolation if this test result is negative. If your test result is positive, you will need to isolate for 10 days.
• Check the Covid-19 rules for the country you are travelling to before you go. (Travel abroad from England during coronavirus (COVID-19) – GOV.UK )

Read the Government’s guidance online.

We regularly review updates from Government as they are published and work out what they mean for council services. We’ll publish information on these pages, or you can sign up for email updates to be the first to know.

While the vast majority of our services are running as normal, some services you usually use operate in a different way. We understand the changes to our services may be frustrating, but we all need to do what we can to stop coronavirus from spreading.

We’re working hard to make sure the services you rely on are available wherever possible.

If you need to contact us, our phone lines and customer service emails are available, and we’re keeping the website updated with information about affected services and alternatives wherever we have them.

We recognise calling a helpline is not easy for people who have difficulty using the telephone, for example some people with autism, or those with a disability, such as hearing loss. As a result we have created a text message option.

Simply text your name and a brief description of the support you need and whether you would like us to respond with a phone call or email – if you choose email make sure you tell us your email address.

The number to text is 07860 027785, this number is monitored 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Please only use this number if you have difficulties making phone calls so we can use the service to support those who really need it.

• Sharing of information for the COVID-19 extremely vulnerable persons’ service
• Public health COVID-19 testing data privacy notice
• COVID-19 test and trace data privacy notice
• Portsmouth City Council – coronavirus risk assessment