If you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, Public Health England advise that you stay at home and do not leave your house for seven days from when your symptoms started.

This action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious.

They recommend to plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home, and ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home.

You should stay at least two metres (about three steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible, and sleep alone, if that is possible.

You do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.

If you do share toilet and bathroom, it is important that you clean them after you have used them every time (e.g. wiping surfaces you have come in contact with). Another tip is to consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with you using the facilities last, before thoroughly cleaning the bath, sink and toilet yourself.

Public Health England say that they will not be testing those self-isolating with mild symptoms. The following advice is designed to help people prevent the spread.

The 14 day period is for those who have had exposure to a confirmed case but have not shown symptoms, but most people will no longer be likely to transmit the virus seven days after the onset of symptoms.

It is very important that you stay at home whilst you have coronavirus (COVID-19). This will help to protect your friends, colleagues and the wider community and will help control the spread of the virus.

A Public Health England spokesperson said: "We realise that staying at home may be difficult or frustrating, but there are things that you can do to help make it easier. These include:

-Plan ahead and think about what you will need in order to be able to stay at home for the full 7 days.

-Talk to your employer, friends and family to ask for their help to access the things you will need in order to successfully stay at home.

-Think about and plan how you can get access to food and other supplies such as medications that you will need during this period.

-Ask friends or family to drop off anything you need or order supplies online, but make sure these are left outside your home for you to collect.

-Make sure that you keep in touch with friends and family over the phone or through social media.

-Think about things you can do during your time at home. People who have successfully completed a period of staying at home have kept themselves busy with activities such as cooking, reading, online learning and watching films.

-When you are feeling better, remember that physical exercise can be good for your wellbeing. Look for online classes or courses that can help you take light exercise in your home.

-While you are staying at home, make sure you do the following things:

Stay at home

-You should remain in your home. Do not go to work, school, or public areas, and do not use public transport or taxis. You cannot go for a walk."