Do people with symptoms of an infectious illness follow advice to stay at home? Evidence from a series of cross-sectional surveys in the UK

Objectives: To assess the percentage of people with cough, fever, or loss of taste or smell who had been to work, to shops, socialised or provided care to a vulnerable person in the ten days after developing symptoms. To investigate whether these rates differed according to the type of symptom, what the participant thought the cause of their symptoms was, and whether they had taken a COVID-19 test. Methods: We analysed data from four online surveys conducted 20 September to 3 November 2021, commissioned via a market research company. Participants were aged over 16 years and lived in the UK. Results: 498 participants reported one or more symptoms and had not had a positive COVID-19 test. Most employed participants had attended work (51.2% to 56.3% depending on the symptom, 95% CIs 42.2% to 65.6%). Rates of other behaviours ranged from 31.4% (caring for a vulnerable person after developing a cough: 95% CI 24.3% to 38.4%) to 61.5% (shopping for groceries or pharmacy after developing a cough: 95% CI 54.1% to 68.9%). There were no differences according to symptom experienced or what the participant felt might be the cause. People who had taken a COVID-19 test engaged in fewer behaviours than people who had not taken a test. Conclusion: Most people in the UK with symptoms of an infectious disease are not following advice to stay at home, even if they believe they have an infectious illness. Reducing these rates may require a shift in our national attitude to infectious illnesses.