Waste industry included as a ‘critical’ industry that can apply for staff to be exempted from having to self-isolate to undertake critical work if they get a notification from the COVID-19 NHS test and trace app.
According to the Government update, it states ‘In the small number of situations where the self-isolation of close contacts would result in serious disruption to critical services, a limited number of named workers may be able to leave self-isolation under specific controls for the purpose of undertaking critical work only.’
This process is only intended to run until the 16th August 2021, when fully vaccinated close contacts will be exempt from self-isolation. The government will continue to engage closely on this with employers over the summer
This policy only applies to you if your employer has received a letter from a government department on which your name is listed. In this event, you will be able to leave self-isolation to undertake critical work. In all other cases, you should continue to self-isolate as now.
This policy applies to named workers in specifically approved workplaces who are fully vaccinated (defined as someone who is 14 days post-final dose) and who have been identified as close contacts. Permission to attend work is contingent on following certain controls, agreed by the Department of Health and Social Care, to mitigate the risk of increased infection. This is not a blanket exemption for all workers in a sector.
This process does not apply to any workers who have tested positive to coronavirus and should also not be used for contacts who develop symptoms regardless of their role or vaccination status. In these circumstances, you should continue to self-isolate as now.
Contact DEFRA at emergencies@defra.gov.uk
For more information go to www.gov.uk/guidance
