Coronavirus can stay in the air for up to 2 hours indoors after being breathed out. This means that the virus may stay in the air in your home even after an infected person has left the room. 

There are several things you can do to help protect the people you live with. If you might have coronavirus it is important to follow ALL of the ideas below as much as you can. 

The ideas may feel a bit strange in your home, but you will only need to do them for a limited amount of time. These changes can make a big difference and stop the virus spreading.

A man reading a book alone in a room by an open window

It helps to spend time in your own space so that you are less likely to pick up the virus from other people. This could be a room that other people do not come into.

Can you arrange for one room in your home to be just for you - and try to spend as much time there as you can? It is particularly important that you sleep on your own. 

A man opening a window

Opening windows often is an easy way to stop the virus collecting in the air. If it is cold outside, you could open a window in one room if you need to spend time there with someone else you live with. Shutting the door to the rest of your home will reduce the amount of heat lost.

Two household members relaxing in the living room 2 metres apart from each other

Keep 6 feet/2 metres away from other members of your household as much as possible. The more distance you can keep between you, the fewer viruses will reach you. 

Can you organise your room so that you have more space between seats? Is it possible to arrange using shared areas of your home at different times, so that only one person is there at a time?

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