Confusion over how latest change affects workers

THE DEPUTY leader of Nottingham City Council has criticised the “confusing” Government guidance that came into force today.

The concerns were raised by Labour councillor Sally Longford during the local outbreak management meeting on Friday.

Her reaction was in response to the Government strategy around new isolation rules that will affect those who have been ‘pinged’ by the NHS Track and Trace app.

During the meeting, Councillor Longford voiced her concerns over the rules and how they will be implemented in the workplace. She said: “How do employers know if their employees have booked their jabs?

“They don’t, basically. “Because of GDPR, which is absolutely right, your health data is not shared with your employer.

“And there is no requirement for employees to tell their employer whether they have had the jab or not. So how do employers get their heads around all this?” The city’s Director of Public Health, Lucy Hubber said: “For a small group of people there will be workplace daily contact testing, and they will be able to get a daily test before they go to work.

“They will still have to isolate outside of work. So they will be able to travel to work, and from work, but they will not be able to go out in the evenings - that is my understanding of the situation. “And that’s really complex - that is one of the real challenges for our community.” Councillor Longford said: “I can say that this is another mess caused by the government not having any clear strategy or plans, and it is going to be very confusing for our citizens.

“I still don’t understand it and I do not know about anybody else on the meeting.”

Ms Hubber added: “I think it is very very very confusing. “And I think it is unfortunate that is not clearer for our citizens because we know that clarity is one of the things that really helps with compliance with the advice.

“So it’s really really concerning that is not more straightforward.

“That said, I think we’ve been, we’ve seen much worse issues earlier in the pandemic.

“I think we will have to work together to get as much clarity out there as we can.”

Ms Hubber said there would be further discussions held internally within the council about the new rules.