Coronavirus: 'I think I have COVID-19, when can I hug my family again?'

With tens of thousands of people testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, many Britons will have gone through the illness and now recovered.

Although the exact number of people who have returned to normal health in the UK is not known, all of those who have experienced symptoms of coronavirus should have gone through at least seven days of isolation (and 14 days if someone in the household develops symptoms).

This isolation, set out in the government's guidelines to help minimise the spread of COVID-19, is intended to prevent the spread of the virus.

Sky News has spoken to Dr Ellie Cannon, an NHS GP, to find out more about how and when people who may have had coronavirus can begin to interact with the people they live with again.

If someone has had symptoms of COVID-19, as a rough guide, when can they start interacting with people again?

Dr Ellie: Essentially when they have cleared seven days since the first day of symptoms or after all of their symptoms have completely gone.

Does that mean that if the person has finished seven days of isolation but still is showing symptoms, should they remain in isolation?

Dr Ellie: Absolutely, yes.

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What if the person's symptoms go away before seven days has passed, should they come out of isolation?

Dr Ellie: No, it's a minimum of seven days for everyone.

If after seven days their symptoms have gone completely can they return to normal behaviour, as they would have before the outbreak?

Dr Ellie: No, they would then have to practise normal social distancing like everyone else. Their chance of passing on the virus is very low.

A person with the virus can pass it on to others. Even after the seven-day isolation and once symptoms have gone, does a person continue to shed the virus and for how long?

Dr Ellie: We don't know for sure. It could be as long as a month but that doesn't mean you are infectious for all of that time. It's complicated. You might have the virus but not be able to pass it on once symptoms settle.

Certainly people are most infectious just before symptoms and at the time of symptoms.

Some data suggests viral shedding can last as long as two to three weeks in some cases, but if you are not coughing or sneezing then chances to pass on the virus go right down.

After self-isolation is finished, can they begin to do things like speak closely to or hug family members and friends that they have not seen for a while?

Dr Ellie: No, absolutely not. They need to do what we are all doing, and only interact with their household in this way.

The only people they can talk to within a two-metre distance are those who are in their household. The person will have had the virus and can't pass it on anymore. If their family are incubating it, then they have already it. So hugging within the household is not a problem.