The government has unveiled its list of 16 sector where fully vaccinated workers can be exempt from isolation after coming into close contact with a Covid-19 case, provided they test negative.
Pressure on Number 10 to relax self-isolation rules has been mounting in recent days, as more than 600,000 Brits were self-isolating last week after being 'pinged' by the NHS Test and Trace app.
The sectors include:
Those workers will be able to leave their isolation to travel to work provided they test negative for Covid-19 - but must remain home if they test positive.
It only applies to workers who have had two-jabs, and 14 days after their second vaccine. The government has said they would publish a list of critical job which would be exempt under the guidance, but so far only sectors have ben named.
Shop shelves have been left empty after staff shortages in supermarkets - but shop floor workers will not be exempt.
Matthew Cooper
The exemptions are only intended to run until August 16, which is when rules around self-isolation are eased.
Workers have also been warned they will only be exempt if their employer has received a letter from the government on which their name is listed.
However the government added this is not a "blanket exemption" for all workers in a sector and "will not cover all or in most cases even the majority of workers in critical sectors".
For more information, further details are available on the government website here.
