New UK rules exempt workers in critical roles from self-isolation

BRITAIN on Monday (19) announced new exemptions to its rules on self-isolation for those exposed to Covid-19, saying workers in critical roles could be allowed to continue working instead of quarantining for 10 days.

“We recognise there are some very specific circumstances where there would be a serious risk of harm to public welfare if people in critical roles are unable to go to their workplace – like air traffic controllers or train signallers,” vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi told parliament.

“So people in those kinds of roles, who have received two vaccinations, plus two weeks beyond the second vaccine, will not need to self isolate for those critical tasks. They will, however, have to continue to self isolate at all other times,” he added.

Cases of Covid-19 are surging in Britain, causing hundreds of thousands of workers to be told they need to spend 10 days at home after being a close contact of someone with the disease.

That has caused staff shortages in schools, businesses and the healthcare system.

The new rules will apply to staff whose absence would cause a significant risk of harm. Those considered eligible will need to test negative for the virus and take daily tests throughout the period they would have been required to isolate for.

“As we learn to live with this virus, it’s important that we ensure frontline staff can keep providing the best possible care and support to people up and down the country,” said health secretary Sajid Javid, who is himself in isolation after testing positive last Saturday (17).

Britain recorded 39,950 new coronavirus infections on Monday, and 19 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, official government data showed. That compared to 48,161 cases and 25 deaths reported a day earlier.

Prime minister Boris Johnson tested negative for Covid-19 and was not displaying any symptoms of the virus, his spokesman said on Monday.

Johnson, who has received both doses of a vaccine, is isolating until July 26 after he was identified as a close contact of Javid.