AS tougher coronavirus restrictions are imposed, more people across Merseyside will have a legal duty to self-isolate.

With new cases of the infection doubling every week, the Prime Minister has said we all need to play a part in controlling the spread of the virus and to protect the most vulnerable from becoming infected.

Anyone who has symptoms of, or has tested positive for, coronavirus will need to self-isolate for at least 10 days.

The symptoms are:

A high temperature

A new, continuous cough

A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

The test needs to be done in the first five days of having symptoms.

There are also a number of reasons you could have to self-isolate, even if you feel perfectly normal.

The Government says you must self-isolate if:

You live with someone who has symptoms or tested positive

Someone in your support bubble has symptoms or tested positive

You're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace

You arrive in the UK from a country with a high coronavirus risk

In these scenarios, you must self-isolate for 14 days.

This means you cannot go to work, school or public places; or use public transport or use taxis.

You also must not leave your home to get food or medicine. These should be ordered online or collected on your behalf.

No visitors are allowed in your home, except for people providing essential care – and you can’t leave your home to exercise either.

The 14 day self-isolation period starts from:

When the first person in your home or support bubble started having symptoms

The day they were tested, if they have not had symptoms – but if they get symptoms after they were tested, self-isolate for a further 14 days from when their symptoms start

The day you are contacted by Track and Trace

If you're having surgery, you and the people you live with may need to self-isolate before you go into hospital.

Your hospital should contact you if this is the case.

People are being reminded to only get a test where symptoms are present.

If your test is negative, you still need to self-isolate for the rest of the 14 days.

If your test is positive, you should self-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms started.

This might mean you're self-isolating for longer than 14 days overall.