Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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

COVID’s not over yet. It 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.

• Working from home: from 19 January, you are no longer asked to work from home if you can. Talk to your employer to agree arrangements to return to your workplace.
• Face coverings: COVID-19 spreads through the air by droplets and aerosols that are exhaled from the nose and mouth of an infected person, so choose to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet, like shops, cinemas, and on public transport. Please note that Plan A guidance requires face coverings to be worn in health and care settings, for example in care homes, hospitals, GP surgeries, and pharmacies.
• For further information visit: Face coverings when to wear one and how to make your own.
• 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 , or from the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms. For more on how to self-isolate and for how long visit our Self-isolation advice page
• When symptom-free: use rapid lateral flow tests regularly to increase the chances of detecting COVID-19 when you are infectious 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.
• Close contacts: if you are identified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact, for most people, if you’re fully vaccinated (at least two doses), or between 5 years and 18 and a half years of age, you will not need to self-isolate as long as you take lateral flow tests for seven consecutive days and the test results remain negative. Close contacts who are aged 18 and over and who are not fully vaccinated must self-isolate for 10 days. Find out more if you have been in close contact with someone who has coronavirus
• 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. If you’re over 16 or over and it’s been three months since your second dose you should get your booster vaccine, book online or wait for your GP to contact you.
• NHS COVID Pass: From 27 January, it will no longer be mandatory for venues to require attendees to demonstrate their COVID-19 status. However, some venues or events may still choose to require proof of COVID-19 status as a condition of entry to reduce risk for attendees and staff. You will be able to show vaccination status , a recent negative test or exemption through the NHS Covid Pass. You can find more information on the government website. You can access you NHS COVID Pass through the NHS Covid-19 app, NHS.UK, or as a letter that can be requested by ringing NHS 119.
• 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.
• 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 indoors with people you do not live with.
• 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:

• When travelling, choose to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet, like shops, cinemas, and on public transport. For further information 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)
• 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