What you need to know
The government has removed remaining domestic restrictions in England. There are still steps you can take to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19:
- Get vaccinated
- Let fresh air in if you meet indoors, or meet outside
- Consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces
Visit GOV.UK for all the latest official information
Latest COVID-19 updates
New guidance published
All remaining domestic COVID regulations have been lifted as part of the Living with COVID-19 Plan. COVID-19 remains a risk, it is still possible to catch and spread COVID-19, even if you are fully vaccinated.
You will not always know whether someone you come into contact with is at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from respiratory infections, including COVID-19. They could be strangers or people you may have regular contact with (for example friends and work colleagues).
There are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections and protect those at highest risk. Things you can choose to do are:
- Get vaccinated.
- Let fresh air in if meeting others indoors.
- Practise good hygiene:
- wash your hands
- cover your coughs and sneezes
- clean your surroundings frequently
- Wear a face covering or a face mask.
Face coverings and face masks can help reduce the chance of you spreading infection to others, especially in crowded and enclosed spaces, and may protect you from becoming infected by some respiratory viruses.
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
The updated guidance is available via GOV.UK:
- Guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19, or a positive test result for COVID-19.
- Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
- Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace.
- COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk
Further information is available in the Living with Covid Plan.
Testing
Free testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) from the NHS has ended for most people in England. There are a small number of people who will still be able to get free COVID-19 tests from the NHS. Information on changes to testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) in England is available from the NHS.
COVID-19 vaccination programme
Eligible groups for Spring boosters include care home residents, people who are 75 and over and those who are immunosuppressed aged 12 and over. People will usually be offered an appointment around 6 months after their last dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
You can still book your first and second vaccine dose, and your booster vaccine when you are eligible, via the NHS National Booking Service.
Further information on vaccination is available via the NHS links below.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination
- How to get a booster dose guidance
- COVID-19 vaccination: spring booster resources
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine for children aged 5 to 15
Local information is available from the Hertfordshire vaccination programme.
Guidance on travelling abroad
Information on travelling abroad is available in the following guidance:
- Check foreign travel advice for the country you are going to. The country you are visiting may have COVID-19 entry rules. You should check these before travelling.
Ventilation
As advised in the Living with COVID plan employers and businesses should continue identifying poorly ventilated spaces and take steps to improve fresh air flow.
This film demonstrates the positive impact of reducing COVID-19 levels indoors by opening a window for just 10 minutes every hour when socialising with others.
Coronavirus spreads from person to person through small droplets, tiny airborne particles known as aerosols and through direct contact. While larger droplets fall quickly to the ground, smaller droplets and aerosols containing the virus can remain suspended in the air. If someone breathes in virus particles that are suspended in the air, they can become infected with COVID-19. This is known as airborne transmission. Airborne transmission is a very significant way that COVID-19 circulates.
In poorly ventilated rooms the amount of virus in the air can build up, increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19, especially if there are lots of infected people in the room. The virus can also remain in the air after an infected person has left. Bringing fresh air into a room and removing older stale air that contains virus particles reduces the chance of spreading COVID-19. The more fresh air that is brought inside, the quicker any airborne virus will be removed from the room.
Guidance on ventilation and how you can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is available on GOV.UK:
Government and NHS guidance
Vaccinations
- Get your COVID-19 vaccination
- Get your booster dose
- Information about the coronavirus vaccination programme
Current Guidance
- Guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19, or a positive test result for COVID-19.
- Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
- Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace.
- COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk
- Living with Covid Plan
Changes to testing
- NHS Changes to testing in England and who can get a free NHS COVID-19 test
Advice and support
- Domestic abuse: how to get help – how to get help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse.