MERS-CoV: self-isolating awaiting MERS-CoV test result

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is an illness caused by MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). This guidance is for you if you are waiting for a MERS-CoV test result and have been advised to self-isolate at home.  

Following the advice in this guidance will help to prevent the spread of MERS-CoV to others. This will protect the health of your family, friends, and anyone else you may have contact with. 

Ending isolation  

You can stop isolating only when your medical team or designated contact confirms that it is safe for you to do so.  

Waiting for MERS-CoV test results 

If you have been advised to isolate while you are waiting for MERS-CoV test results, you should stay at home and follow this isolation guidance until you get your test results. 

If the NHS team who tested you informs you that your test is negative, you no longer need to follow this guidance.  

What you need to do now 

Take the following actions to help prevent the spread of MERS-CoV to others. This will help to protect your health, the health of your family and anyone else that you may have contact with. 

Stay at home and away from other people 

While awaiting your test results, you should self-isolate until your medical team or designated contact have confirmed that you no longer need to because your MERS-CoV test is negative. This means you should: 

• stay at home and not go to work, school or public areas 

• not have visitors to your home 

• not travel, either within the UK or internationally 

This will all help to keep you and everyone around you safe. 

Ask friends or family for help with buying groceries, collecting medication and other essentials, or order them online for delivery to your home. Friends, family, or delivery drivers should leave your supplies at the front door and not enter your home. 

You should only leave your home if it is essential, for example in an emergency, for an urgent medical appointment or for urgent health and wellbeing issues.  

Avoid close contact with other people 

If you were to develop MERS, the people who would be most likely to catch MERS-CoV from you are the people that you live with or have close contact with. You should therefore reduce your level of contact with other people in your household to reduce the chance of passing MERS-CoV on to them.  

It is particularly important to avoid close contact with people aged 65 years or older and people with medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease or those with conditions or taking treatments that reduce their immune system. This is because these people are at higher risk of severe disease if they go on to develop MERS. 

Take the following actions to reduce the chance of passing MERS-CoV on to other people within your household: 

• do not share a bed or bedding with other people, if possible 

• avoid close contact (including kissing, cuddling or other skin-to-skin contact and sexual activity) 

• do not share personal items, such as toothbrushes, towels, razors, washcloths, plates, cups and cutlery 

• do not share food and drink with other people – you can take out a portion from a larger meal onto a separate plate, but you should not eat from the same plate as anyone else (if you do not finish your food, other people should not eat your leftovers) 

• use shared rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen after other people have used them – clean surfaces in these rooms after you have used them 

• if you need to spend time in a shared room with others in your household, wear a surgical face mask if possible 

• keep windows open to let fresh air in if possible. 

• clean your hands frequently throughout the day, by washing with soap and wate – use a separate soap dispenser and hand towel to the rest of your household (alternatively, clean your hands with alcohol hand rub) 

• use remote communication, such as phone, text or video call to stay in contact with people while you cannot see them in person 

Self-isolating with children in the household  

Always give children who are isolating the care and contact they need to ensure their wellbeing.  

If you are unable to isolate away from a child or children in your household (for example, if you are the only parent or guardian in the household) or a child in your household is a close contact of someone with MERS, take the following steps wherever possible, while ensuring the child is safe and well: 

• if possible, wear a face mask when in close contact with them 

• ensure you wash your hands regularly 

What to do if you need medical advice  

If you have any concerns about your symptoms or if your symptoms get worse, phone your designated contact (medical team) from the NHS. Only go to healthcare or dental appointments if they are essential. Do not go for appointments that can wait. If you must go for essential treatment, call the treatment provider first. Tell them you are staying at home because you are waiting for a test result for MERS-CoV. They will tell you if you can come in for treatment or if you need to make alternative arrangements. 

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, contact your midwife, health visitor or obstetrician for advice.   

Responding to emergencies and critical situations 

You should stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary to leave, and only leave for: 

• emergencies 

• urgent medical appointments 

• critical health and wellbeing reasons 

If it is essential for you to leave your home, you should: 

• always wear a surgical face mask 

• keep trips as short as possible 

• avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily 

Cleaning your home 

Keep your home clean using your usual household cleaning products. Dilute the cleaning products following the manufacturer’s instructions if necessary.  

How MERS-CoV spreads 

MERS-CoV spreads to humans from camels in countries where the virus is circulating. This may be via contact with the camels, or camel products such as milk or meat, contact with an infected person or attendance at a hospital in a country MERS-CoV is known to be circulating. The infection can spread between people through close contact with the person with the infection, such as prolonged face to face contact in a household or hospital setting. It can take up to 14 days from contact with an infected animal or person for symptoms to develop. 

More information on MERS 

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a rare but serious disease caused by infection with MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The virus is known to be present in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding geographic region. The virus is not known to be present in the UK, and cases in the UK were infected outside of the UK, or after close contact with a family member with MERS.  

You can find more information about MERS-CoV at:     

• UKHSA – MERS-CoV: background information

• WHO –  Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)   

•  your designated infection safety team