UK Government Sets Out Plans For Living With Covid
It's all about personal responsibility ...
Posted by Roger Eddowes on 28/02/2022 @ 8:00AM
The Government has announced that we will now be living with Covid rather than attempting to protect the country from a pandemic. This means they are confident the number of infections has reduced to a level we can call it endemic instead ...
This new Government guidance is about living with Covid!
From now on, people with Covid symptoms are encouraged to exercise their own personal responsibility, much the way we do with colds and flu. This is because all legal restrictions in England were lifted on Thursday the 24th of February 2022.
"Individuals are no longer legally required to self-isolate!"
This also means that the Government has stopped self-isolation support payments, however additional provisions for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will remain in place until the 24th of March 2022. You should not claim the SSP rebate for covid-related absences after this time.
Those testing positive are now advised to stay at home for at least 5 days and as routine contact tracing also ended last week, it's down to the individual and their own personal responsibility to ensure they don't spread the virus to their friends, family and colleagues. Anyone in contact with a COVID-19 sufferer will not have to self isolate or take daily tests if they are fully vaccinated or under the age of 18.
If someone is unwilling to isolate, it is important to get your policies in place now as to how you're going to manage this and whether salaries will continue to be paid through their illness to ensure they don't feel they have to come to work to ensure they get paid.
Also, remember that free testing ends on the 1st of April 2022 and anyone needing a test will have to pay for them. Again, this may mean people are unwilling to get tested which could spread the virus through your team.
"You could consider paying for them to ensure your staff get tested!"
Further guidance will come from the Government about minimising contact with others which will replace the existing Working Safely guidance and will match everything in line with public health advice about living with Covid.
You will no longer need to consider COVID-19 in your risk assessments.
Until next time ...
ROGER EDDOWES Business Godparent
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more about how the living with Covid announcement could affect you and your business, it may be a great idea to give me a call on 01908 774320 and let's see how I can help you.
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Roger trained at Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons in Market Harborough before working at Hartwell & Co, followed by Chancery, as a partner. He started Essendon Accounts and Tax with Helen Beaumont in 2014 as a general practitioner with a hands-on approach.
Roger loves getting his hands dirty, working with emerging, small-to-medium and family businesses to ensure they receive the best possible accountancy advice. Roger utilises an extensive network of business contacts to leverage the best guidance and practical solutions.
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