Home Isolation & Shielding

Updated 27 March 2020

Home isolation, shielding and coronavirus

If you or someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus, you will need to stay at home for up to 14 days. 

The Welsh Government has also asked people to self-isolate for up to 12 weeks if they have been identified as a greater risk. If you are in this category, the NHS will directly contact you with advice about the more stringent measures you should take in order to keep yourself and others safe. They will also tell you about the support available for home isolation. If you are worried you are in this group and you are not contacted, you should speak to your healthcare team.

It’s important to stay up-to-date with advice provided by the Welsh government and the NHS. Here are links to the latest information about staying at home:

We understand that home isolation isn’t easy. This page has advice we hope will help.

What is home isolation?

Home isolation means staying at home to stop the spread of coronavirus, or to reduce your risk of contracting it. 

According to advice from the NHS, this means you shouldn’t:

  • go to work, school or public areas
  • use public transport or taxis
  • have visitors, such as friends and family, in your home
  • go to buy food or collect medicine.

You are able to use your garden, if you have one. Please make sure you’re following the latest advice from GOV.WALES.

Preparing for home isolation

You might be feeling worried about home isolation. Being prepared will hopefully help ease some of your concerns. We recommend that you:

  • Think about what you will need in order to be able to stay at home for the full 7 to 14 days.
  • Think about and plan how you can get food and other supplies such as medications that you will need during this period.
  • Ask friends, family of your employer if they can drop off anything you need while you’re in home isolation.
  • Plan in advance what you will do if someone in your household were to feel much worse, such as having difficulties breathing.
  • If you order supplies online, make sure they are left outside your home for you to collect.

It’s understandable you may be feeling more anxious. We have prepared a list of organisations providing emotional and practical help.