Health and food staff on list of ‘essential’ workers

Frontline health and social care staff, people involved in food production and delivery, and utility workers are among a list of workers deemed “essential” to the Covid-19 response.

The government published a list of “key workers” whose children will continue to be cared for at school amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It includes healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses, police, teachers and food delivery staff.

But unions have warned the list is so extensive that schools could struggle to cope.

The Department for Education said: “If your work is critical to the Covid-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home, then your children will be prioritised for education provision.”

The list has been separated into eight categories, including health and social care, education and childcare, key public services, and transport.

Key public services are deemed to include those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, journalists and broadcasters providing public service broadcasting, and workers responsible for the management of the deceased.

Those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery are also included, along with bank workers, key telecommunications staff and postal services and delivery workers.