What to do if you have symptoms
If you have any of the following symptoms of COVID-19 please stay at home until:
- Your symptoms have resolved, and
- You do not have a fever
Symptoms list
The following symptoms can indicate a COVID-19 infection:
- Headache, sore throat and a runny nose*
- Tiredness, new and severe fatigue (recent onset)
- Aches and pains, new muscle ache for no obvious reason (recent onset)
- Headache (sinus pain, pain around eyes)
- Conjunctivitis (itchy, watery, painful or pink eye(s)
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Fever (high temperature, rigors, chills, can't get warm)
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Dry cough (Continuous new cough)
- Diarrhoea
- Children and Over 80s - loose stool, mild fever, not themselves with a cough presenting later
- A rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes (seek urgent medical advice)
- Chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, chest tightness (phone the emergency services on 999)
- Loss of speech or movement (phone the emergency services on 999)
*Except a runny nose associated with known allergies such as hay-fever, animal/pet hair or other irritants, which responds to antihistamines.
Testing for COVID-19
Since 3rd April 2023 free LFTs are no longer available for members of the community who are symptomatic. LFTs may continue to be used to minimise the risk of potential outbreaks in vulnerable locations, by testing islanders admitted to such settings, including the hospital, care homes and prison. Visitors to such locations are no longer advised to test beforehand but are strongly encouraged against visiting friends or relatives if symptomatic.
Testing for at-home diagnosis is optional. LFTs are available to purchase online or from local pharmacies if required for this purpose.
If you test positive
If you choose to test at home and receive a positive result please use the online form at https://www.gov.gg/covidnotification to register your result or call the clinical helpline (01481 220001 or 01481 220002) who can register a result for you. This helps us to monitor the level of COVID-19 in the island.
Close contacts
Contact tracing is no longer routinely performed after a positive test for COVID-19, however it's still a good idea to tell people you have spent a lot of time with over the last 3 days that you have tested positive. This includes the nursery, school or college that you (or a child in your care who is positive) attend/s
If you are the close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 you should be vigilant for symptoms of COVID-19 in case it has been passed on and, where possible:
- discuss your situation with your employer before you attend work so that they may do an individual risk assessment before your return
- do not visit a hospital, care and residential home or other health and care facility without prior arrangements unless in an emergency
- practise social distancing and always observe good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
- limit contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19
If you test negative
If you have a negative LFT, you can carry on with your normal routine but should not visit vulnerable people while symptomatic.
It is still a good idea to stay at home if you are feeling unwell, as this will help prevent the spread of all illnesses.
Seek advice from your GP if you are worried about your symptoms.
Returning to work or school
Wait until your symptoms are gone. You can then return to work or school, subject to any requirements your employer might have.
If someone has, for example, a lingering cough, they should seek advice from a health practitioner before they return to work.
Diarrhoea and vomiting - in these cases a person must be symptom free for 48 hours before they return to work or school.
How to treat Coronavirus symptoms at home
You should rest and look after yourself at home while you recover.
Please see our guide in the downloads section which includes:
- Treating a high temperature
- Treating a cough
- Getting help while you're staying at home e.g. prescriptions and grocery deliveries
- What to do if you're feeling breathless
- If you have a pulse oximeter
- When to get medical help
Staying at home when you are unwell needs to become ingrained in the Bailiwick's culture.
Business owners and managers are being asked to support and encourage staff to continue doing the right thing by staying at home if they are unwell, or if they have tested positive for COVID-19.
