This outbreak is now officially a global pandemic and in the UK the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) is continuing to rise and it is now thought to be spreading outside of the original risk groups to the wider public at large. The government’s public health response has therefore moved from containment to delay and this update reflects this change and the impact it will have on employers and employees. We update you on when employees will need to self-isolate and the current emphasis on social distancing wherever possible.
Schools, colleges and nurseries (except for vulnerable children and children of key workers (as yet to be fully defined)) will be closed from Monday 23 March and, while much will depend on the type of business the employer has, being as flexible as possible with affected employees will help ensure that such employees can continue working, especially as it is currently unknown how long this situation will last.