Free tests for COVID-19 ended for most people in England on 31 March 2022.
The scheme for free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests for Portsmouth residents ended on 30 June.
Free tests for COVID-19 ended for most people in England on 31 March 2022.
The scheme for free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests for Portsmouth residents ended on 30 June.
Anyone, including children, with symptoms of coronavirus should avoid contact with others.
From 1 April, updated guidance advises people with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, and a high temperature or who feel unwell, to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.
From 1 April, anyone with a positive COVID-19 test result is advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days, which is when they are most infectious.
If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus you are no longer required to self-isolate – even if you have not been vaccinated.
Close contacts who are fully vaccinated are no longer asked to test daily for seven days.
It’s really important that we all continue to follow coronavirus safety advice to keep ourselves and others safe.
You may wish to do rapid lateral flow tests on days when you’re more likely to catch or spread COVID-19, for example, do a test before you:
Testing as a precaution when you are a close contact protects others from the virus.
The scheme for free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test kits for Portsmouth residents ended on 30 June.
Certain places such as health and social care settings, schools and prisons are likely to have their own specific testing rules and guidance. You should continue to follow testing guidance for those settings.
Asymptomatic testing means those who test positive for the virus but who don’t get symptoms will know to take precautions to avoid spreading the virus. Adults and children who test positive are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with anyone in an at risk group, including if they live in the same household.
All tests are easy for you to do at home. Step-by-step instructions are included with the test kit. You can call 119 and request a translation service.
To get started:
Get testing support and guidance in 200 different languages online; or call the NHS on 119.
There are a small number of people who will still be able to get free COVID-19 tests from the NHS:
If you are using NHS test kits, you should continue to report your results. Reporting your results (even if they are negative) helps monitor levels of infection in the community and helps early detection of new variants. If you are eligible for free NHS tests, do not use tests you have bought or received privately as your results cannot be recorded.
Learn more about who is eligible for NHS COVID-19 tests on the NHS website.
If the result is positive
From 1 April, if you have a positive COVID-19 test result, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days, which is when you are most infectious. There is more information about test results and what to do on the NHS website (When to self-isolate).
If you are eligible for free NHS COVID-19 tests
If you are eligible for free NHS tests, do not use tests you have bought or received privately as your results cannot be recorded. Learn more about who is eligible for NHS Covid-19 tests on the NHS website (Get tested).