Self-isolating is vital to stop the spread of COVID-19

According to news reports, a study led by King’s College London shows that fewer than one-fifth of people in the UK who develop coronavirus symptoms are following the rules and self-isolating at home.

Just 18 per cent of people involved with the study, who developed symptoms between March and August, said they had actually self-isolated, and only 11 per cent of those in contact with someone testing positive for coronavirus said they had stayed at home for the required two weeks.

But the recent rise in COVID-19 cases here in Somerset and across the country, in all age groups and communities, are a stark warning to us all that we need to keep working together to slow the spread of the virus.

Public Health England has written about how vitally important self-isolating is to stop coronavirus from spreading in our community, particularly to people who could become very sick if they catch the virus.

You must self-isolate:

• if you have symptoms and are waiting for a test
• if your test is positive
• if you’re notified by NHS Test and Trace or the new NHS COVID-19 app that you’ve been in close contact with a confirmed case.

The simple message is…self-isolating for the full duration may well be a frustrating thing to do, but it’s a very necessary part of stopping this pandemic. So, if we’re called upon to do it, or we develop symptoms, then let’s just do it and do it properly.