In the face of the growing crisis caused by high levels of close contact self-isolation, the government has now published more details on the partial exemption from self-isolation for certain key workers. This scheme will run until 16 August when contact self-isolation will no longer be necessary if an individual is fully vaccinated.
Which sectors are covered?
The guidance lists the following sectors but makes it clear that this is not a definitive list and if you think your sector meets the necessary criteria you should contact your relevant government department.
How does the scheme work?
The scheme applies where:
What do you have to show for your worker to be accepted under the scheme?
The test which will be applied is whether :
It will not cover most of the workers in a particular sector and the example given in the guidance is that it may be appropriate for a railway signalling role but generally not for individual train drivers.
What should you do if you want your workers to be covered by the scheme?
If you believe the absence of a worker would cause serious disruption to critical services, you should contact the relevant government department (see table below) setting out:
If the request is accepted, you’ll receive a letter from the relevant department setting out the named critical workers to whom this will apply. This letter will also explain the measures you and those workers need to follow.
Unless this letter is received, you and your workers should continue to follow the usual self-isolation rules.
Application contact details for the 16 sectors identified
Department | Main sector | Contact details |
BEIS | Energy
Civil nuclear |
beisquarantine.exemptions@beis.gov.uk |
DCMS | Digital infrastructure | dcms.coronavirus@dcms.gov.uk |
Defra | Food production and supply, Water, Veterinary medicines, Essential chemicals | emergencies@defra.gov.uk |
DfT | Essential transport | cv19pmo@dft.gov.uk |
DHSC | Medicines, Medical devices, Clinic consumable supplies | covid19.criticalworker@dhsc.gov.uk |
Home Office | Emergency services, Border Control | covid19operationsandpolicy@homeoffice.gov.uk |
MoD | Essential defence outputs | spo-covidteam@mod.gov.uk |
MHCLG | Local government | lgresponse@communities.gov.uk |