Policy paper

SAGE advice on reducing the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission in the home

Published 7 December 2020

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has been published to help you safely plan for gatherings in the home. Find out more about the role of SAGE in government.

This advice does not affect the published guidance on coronavirus. You should continue to follow the rules on gatherings. Find out more about what you can and cannot do. You should keep taking steps to reduce the spread of the virus, wash hands, cover your face, make space and ensure indoor spaces get as much fresh air as possible.

The advice from SAGE includes how to make a household plan. This is a practical plan to help you prepare for social interactions in the home, which is agreed by all those who will be attending. Preparing a household plan will help to reduce your risk of transmitting COVID-19.

A checklist of ten points is summarised below:

1. Consider whether meeting up is essential and cannot be postponed or replaced by safer forms of interaction.

Identify where in-person interactions could be replaced by online events or postponed until an appropriate future date, for example when in a lower tier.

2. Consider replacing indoor events with outdoor activities or using larger spaces to host events.

Outdoor and larger spaces may provide more physical space and better ventilation compared to households with less space.

3. Remember most infections happen indoors in private homes where people get close to friends and family.

Within the home we may be more likely to assume people and places we know are safe.

4. Take special care to protect people who are particularly vulnerable to serious consequences from infection.

This includes older people and those with underlying health conditions. It is also important to reduce the risk of infection among those who have close contact with particularly vulnerable people, for example carers or nurses.

5. Ensure people who are emotionally vulnerable have social support.

Special care should be taken to interact safely with people who are socially isolated, including meeting outside if possible, online or by phone.

People who have very little contact with others are unlikely to be infected and may be able to meet together safely.

6. People who have to self-isolate or quarantine should not meet with anyone.

If people have to self-isolate due to COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test, or quarantine because they have been in contact with a confirmed case, then it is essential to do so regardless of the occasion.

7. Limit interactions to the same small group of people as much as possible.

This reduces the probability that someone will come into contact with the virus and limits how far the virus can spread if there is transmission. Meeting two groups of different people in the same week increases the risk of spreading the virus compared with meeting the same group of people twice. Limiting or avoiding interactions with other people in the 7-14 days before meeting, and reducing travel across different parts of the country can further reduce the likelihood of transmission.

8. Limit the time spent together, especially if meeting indoors.

Indoor interactions should be restricted as much as possible and reserved for short duration quality time. Children should meet vulnerable relatives, including grandparents, outside where possible; brief meetings such as walking or playing outside are safest.

9. Think about the space your event will take place in, and how people will interact.

You will need to think about cleaning, ventilation (fresh air) and the layout of rooms to allow for social distancing. Think about hygiene and any activities associated with the event, such as games or serving food. Transmission through airborne, droplet and surface contact routes can be reduced by following guidance on reducing the spread of COVID-19 in your household. Children should meet older or vulnerable relatives outside where possible. Brief outside meetings such as walking or playing are safest.

10. Agree the plan with friends and family before the event so that everyone knows the safest way to meet.

A plan is likely to be most successful if it is agreed in advance. This includes explaining it to children.You can read examples of household plans published by SAGE.