Call to increase help to people self-isolating

The Government is being called on to increase support for people who are self-isolating because of the COVID-19 virus.

Researchers from the Nuffield Trust and the Resolution Foundation have warned that the success of the vaccine rollout could be undermined if more help is not given.

The two think tanks say boosting compliance with self-isolation is also critical to resist the threats posed by new variants and rising cases as restrictions ease further.

They are proposing a modified version of the Job Retention Scheme, which would allow employers to apply for capped grants to cover the lost wages of any employee needing to self-isolate.

The scheme would cost £39m a month if it were to cover 100% of wages capped at an equivalent of £2,500 a month.

Nuffield Trust senior fellow Sarah Reed said: "The support available for people to self-isolate has been a blind spot in our response to the pandemic.

"Next week the country will take further steps towards some resemblance of normality, but there are risks ahead.

"With case numbers low, now is the time to fix the holes in our self-isolation policy."

Resolution Foundation chief economist Mike Brewer added: "The UK's failure to financially support workers who need to self-isolate has severely hampered efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

"Repurposing the successful Job Retention Scheme to compensate workers when they need to self-isolate could play a key role in continuing to suppress the virus as we continue to reopen the economy - and renew social interactions."