The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force at midnight on Monday 28^th September 2020 in England and set out mandatory periods for self-isolation, and a duty to notify the Secretary of State of the names of people in the same household as anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. [If you show signs of COVID-19 you self-isolate for 10 days; anyone you live with self-isolates for 14 days whether or not they have signs; or until they themselves develop signs of COVID-19, at which point they self-isolate again for a further 10 days].

Regulation 7 makes it an offence for an employer to knowingly permit any worker to attend any place other than where the individual is self-isolating. This includes individuals required to self-isolate because they live with someone who has tested positive.  So if an employer knows a worker has tested positive (or lives with someone who has tested positive), it is now responsible for stopping the worker from working (unless they can work from home). Any employer who fails to do so will face a fine, starting at £1,000 (then it doubles each time).

Regulation 8 obligates the worker to tell their employer that they are self-isolating.

Regulation 11 states that any individual who breaches self-isolation will, normally, commit a separate criminal offence.

Please do not hesitate to contact our employment law specialist Anthony Willis on 01325 466 794 or anthonyw@bhplaw.co.uk for further guidance on how the regulations enforced due to the Coronavirus may affect you or your business.