16 sectors where workers will be exempt from Covid-19 self-isolation UK News

The government has released a list of 16 areas where fully vaccinated workers will be exempt from self-isolation when quarantined after coming into close contact with someone who tests positive for Covid-19.

The new process will allow critical workers to continue their work even if they are identified as contact with a coronavirus case.

It is only scheduled until August 16, when a broader easing for fully vaccinated contacts is expected to take effect.

When employers believe that self-isolating some key employees as contacts would lead to serious disruption of essential services, they have been advised to contact the relevant government department.

Individuals identified as contacts should only attend work in “critical parts of the national infrastructure” and if their absence “is likely to result in the loss or compromise of that infrastructure” resulting in “major adverse impact” on the delivery of essential services or a significant impact on national security.

The updated guidelines stated: “In the small number of situations where self-isolation from close contacts would cause serious disruption to critical services, a limited number of named workers may be able to exit self-isolation under protective supervision. specific checks for the purpose of undertaking critical work only ”.

The policy only applies to appointed workers if their employer has received a letter from the relevant ministry.

“This is not a general exemption for all workers in a sector,” the guide added.

Those in charge “will agree on the roles and workplaces likely to meet the criteria” of the exemption from self-isolation “on a daily basis”.

“When a specific case meets the criteria, the employer will receive a letter from the relevant department indicating the appointed critical workers designated and telling them what actions they and those workers need to take,” the guide says.

The guide lists 16 sectors.

• Energy
• Civil nuclear
• Digital infrastructure
• Food production and supply
• Waste
• The water
• Veterinary drugs
• Essential chemicals
• Indispensable transport
• Medicines
• Medical equipement
• Clinical consumables
• Emergency services
• Border control
• Essential defense
• Local government