Employees and workers must receive any Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) due to them if they need to self-isolate because:

• they have coronavirus
• they have coronavirus symptoms, for example a high temperature or new continuous cough
• someone in their household has coronavirus symptoms
• they've been told to self-isolate by a doctor or NHS 111

If someone has symptoms and lives alone, they must self-isolate for 7 days.

If someone lives in a household and is the first to have symptoms, they must self-isolate for 7 days. Everyone else in their household must self-isolate for 14 days.

If anyone else in the household starts displaying symptoms, the person with the new symptoms must self-isolate for 7 days. This is regardless of where they are in the 14-day isolation period.

Read more about:

• guidance for households with possible coronavirus on GOV.UK
• Welsh Government guidance for households

Find more advice about self-isolating:

• in England, NHS.UK

• in Wales, NHS Direct Wales

• in Scotland, NHS Inform for Scotland  

Employers might offer more than SSP – 'contractual' sick pay. Find out more about sick pay.

If an employee or worker cannot work, they should tell their employer:

• as soon as possible
• the reason
• how long they're likely to be off for

If the employer needs proof

Employees in self-isolation need to follow their workplace's usual sickness reporting process.

Employees can 'self-certify' for the first 7 days off work. This means following their workplace process but not having to get a note from a doctor or NHS 111.

Those self-isolating due to coronavirus for more than 7 days can get an online self-isolation note from the:

• NHS website
• NHS mobile phone app – for those registered with a GP in England
• NHS Direct Wales – use the coronavirus symptom checker

It's a good idea to check your workplace's policy on absence from work. Employers might need to be flexible if asking for self-isolation notes. For example, an employee with severe symptoms might not be able to get a note straight away.