From Wednesday if you catch the virus you have to self isolate at home for 10 days – up to and including December 25 – as the Omicron variant spreads across the UK

Tuesday is the last day you can test positive for coronavirus and still be able to see your family on Christmas Day.

From Wednesday if you catch the virus you have to self isolate at home for 10 days – up to and including December 25 – in a bid to stop the spread of the virus currently sweeping the country once again.

There are currently 10 people in hospital with the Omicron variant as cases rocket up.

What do I do if someone in my household tests positive? Do I need to isolate as well?

The government updated their guidance today and explains what you need to do between now and Christmas Day.

It reads: “Anyone aged five years and over who lives in the same household as someone with Covid-19 and who is not legally required to self-isolate is now strongly advised to take an LFD test every day for 7 days.

“If any of these LFD tests are positive they should self-isolate in order to protect other people.

“The public health advice for people with symptoms of, or a positive test result for COVID-19 remains the same for everyone.

“If you live in the same household as someone with Covid-19 you are at significantly higher risk of becoming infected yourself.”

Anyone who is over 18 years and six months and not double vaccinated is legally required to self isolate if they live with someone who tests positive.

Anyone who is aged between five and 18 years and six moths, or is fully vaccinated is strongly advised to take daily lateral flow tests for seven days, but does not need to isolate.

The government reiterated that they class a household as either:

• one person living alone
• a group of people (who may or may not be related) living at the same address and who share cooking facilities, bathrooms or toilets, or living areas and may include students in boarding schools or halls of residence
• groups of people who share a nomadic way of life for example those who live on Traveller sites, in vehicles or on canal boats

What if I need to go to work to pay my bills?

The government says you may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the NHSTest and Trace Support Payment scheme if you are required to stay at home and self-isolate and unable to go to work.

You can also get support if you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate.

Your local authority websiteshould explain what you need to do.

You can also get practical support to access food and prescription medicine while you are stuck inside.