If you are over 70 years old or are categorised as vulnerable, then you have been advised to “cocoon”.
Learn about cocooning
This means staying away from other people so that you are better protected from COVID-19.
This can feel unnatural and a little unsettling, so we’ve put together some advice to try to make it a little easier.
What you must do:
- Stay at home at all times and avoid contact with others in your house who are continuing to go outside
- Keep in touch with family and friends over the phone or online if you have access
- Keep yourself mobile by getting up and moving as much as possible
- Ask neighbours, family or friends to get any shopping or medicine you need - do not go out shopping
- Arrange for food or medicine deliveries to be left outside your door
- Use the phone if you need to contact your GP or other services - do not leave your house
What others living in your home must do
The rest of your household do not need to adopt the above cocooning measures for themselves but are expected to do what they can to support you.
They can do this by:
- Keeping at least 1 metre (3 ft) and where possible 2 metres away from you, if they have to enter the same room as you
- Cleaning their hands regularly and making sure to cough or sneeze into their elbow or tissue and bin immediately
- Using a different toilet and bathroom to you or else clean it before you use it - consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with you using the facilities first
- Using separate towels from you, both for drying themselves after bathing or showering and for hand-hygiene purposes
- Taking it in turns to use the kitchen
- Not sharing cutlery and utensils
- Cleaning all surfaces with usual household detergent.