Self-isolating after (self)testing positive for coronavirus
If you test positive for coronavirus after doing a self-test or getting tested by the municipal health service (GGD), you must self-isolate immediately. This means staying at home in a separate room from others in your household. This is to avoid them becoming infected too. This page tells you how long you must self-isolate for and what rules apply.
Staying home and self-isolating
If you test positive for coronavirus after doing a self-test or getting tested by the GGD, you must self-isolate immediately. This means staying at home in a separate room from others in your household, even if you have been vaccinated against coronavirus. This will prevent you from infecting any people you live with and others.
Check how long you must self-isolate for and what rules apply
To find out what you must do if you need to self-isolate and how long you must self-isolate for,
If you test positive of coronavirus, you must self-isolate
You must self-isolate for a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 10 days. The day your symptoms appeared counts as day 0.
After 5 days, you can end your self-isolation once you have been free [A1] of symptoms for 24 hours. The symptoms are:
fever;
cough;
sore throat;
shortness of breath;
stuffy or runny nose.
This advice also applies if you have a weakened immune system, because of a medical condition or certain medications you take.
If you are a healthcare professional and you work in a hospital or other healthcare setting, the special healthcare protocol (lci.rivm.nl) applies.
Healthcare professionals in essential roles can end their self-isolation earlier and return to work if they have no symptoms. But only when there is a shortage of staff. Strict conditions apply.
After you end your self-isolation, you should continue to follow the additional advice that applies.
If you had no symptoms at the time of your test and you have no symptoms afterwards, the self-isolation rules are as follows:
self-isolate for 5 days. The day of your test counts as day 0.
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms during the self-isolation period, start again. The day your symptoms appeared now counts as day 0. You must self-isolate for a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 10 days.
After 5 days, you can end your self-isolation once you have been free of symptoms for 24 hours. The symptoms are:
fever;
a cough;
a sore throat;
shortness of breath;
stuffy or runny nose.
This advice also applies if you have a weakened immune system, because of a medical condition or certain medications you take.
If you are a healthcare professional and you work in a hospital or other healthcare setting, the special healthcare protocol (lci.rivm.nl) applies.
Healthcare professionals in essential roles can end their self-isolation earlier and return to work if they have no symptoms. But only when there is a shortage of staff. Strict conditions apply.
After you end your self-isolation, you should continue to follow the additional advice that applies.
After you end your self-isolation, follow the advice below until 10 days after day 0. The day you developed symptoms or tested positive counts as day 0:
everyone aged 13 or older should wear a medical face mask in all public indoor spaces, public transport and educational institutions and in outdoor spaces where people cannot stay 1.5 metres apart;
continue to follow the general hygiene rules and advice carefully.
Self-isolation rules
The following rules apply during self-isolation:
Stay in your own room as much as possible. Sleep there on your own.
Other people in your house should avoid coming into your room as much as possible.
Make sure you have as little contact as possible with members of your household and keep 1.5 metres apart. This means no hugging, kissing or any form of physical intimacy.
Use your own separate plates, cutlery, cups and glasses.
Use your own toothbrush.
Use your own separate towels.
If you have more than one bathroom and toilet in your house, use a different bathroom and toilet to the other members of your household. If you have one bathroom and toilet that you share, clean them every day. Ensure a good flow of fresh air in rooms where possible. Open the windows 3 times a day for 15 minutes.
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and always:
after coughing and sneezing
after going to the toilet
after tidying up and cleaning
before preparing and eating food.
Use a paper tissue when coughing. If you do not have a paper tissue at hand, cough into your elbow.
Use a tissue once only and then dispose of it immediately. Then wash your hands.
Ensure that other people do not come into contact with your bodily fluids, such as spit, snot, sweat, faeces and urine.
Put your dirty washing in a separate washing basket and wash it at 40 degrees or more on a full cycle using normal detergent.
Put your dirty plates, cutlery, cups and glasses in the dishwasher on a full cycle. Or wash them by hand separately from the other washing up. Use normal washing up liquid and hot water.
Put your rubbish in a separate bin bag in your own room. It can be disposed of with the normal waste.
