Latest guidance

The COVID-19 Vaccinations are safe and effective. They give you the best protection against COVID-19 and reduce your chances of getting seriously ill.

Please come forward and get your vaccinations if you are yet to do so. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are thinking of having a baby, then the advice from the experts is to have your COVID-19 vaccine.

For current information on who can get a COVID-19 vaccination and to find out your eligibility, please visit the NHS website.

You can also access vaccinations by finding your nearest walk-in clinic or booking an appointment using the national booking system.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tests are no longer free for most people. You’re no longer advised to get tested. If you still want to get tested and you're not eligible for a free NHS test, you must pay for a COVID-19 test yourself.

You can buy rapid lateral flow tests from some pharmacies and retailers, in person or online.

Some people can still get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests from the NHS.

If you have a health condition which means you're eligible for new COVID-19 treatments:

You should be sent a COVID-19 test to use if you have symptoms.

You can order free NHS tests yourself, if you have not received any tests yet or have used the tests you've been sent.

If you’re going into hospital:

You may need to get tested if you're due to have surgery or a procedure.

Check the letter your hospital has sent you to find out if you need to take a test or not. Contact your hospital department if you have any questions.

If you work in healthcare or adult social care:

If you work in healthcare or adult social care, you may be able to get free NHS COVID-19 tests.

It depends on your role and if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or not.

If you work in healthcare or adult social care and cannot get a free NHS COVID-19 test, you can buy rapid lateral flow tests from some pharmacies and retailers, in person or online.

Order a free NHS COVID-19 test if you're eligible, to your home.

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you:

• Have any symptoms of COVID-19 and have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to go to work or do your normal activities.
• Have tested positive for COVID-19 – this means it's very likely you have the virus.

You should avoid being in close contact with people at higher risk from COVID-19.

When you travel to England, you:

• Do not need to complete a UK passenger locator form before you travel.
• Do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive.
• Do not need to quarantine when you arrive.

This applies whether you are vaccinated or not. It includes people who are transiting through England.

Other countries have rules about what you must do to travel there from England.

Find out what you need to do to follow COVID-19 rules for other countries when you travel abroad from England.