Enforcement and support for self-isolation

Ensuring infected individuals and their close contacts isolate is one of our most powerful tools for controlling transmission.

Self-isolating helps prevent family, friends and the community from contracting coronavirus, as well as helping to protect the health and care system.

Enforcement and support measures for people to self-isolate include:

• A legal duty on individuals who have been instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace , either because they’ve tested positive or are a close contact of a positive case or identified as a close contact by the NHS COVID-19 App 
• A new Test and Trace Support Payment scheme - this consists of a £500 taxable lump sum payment for those on low incomes to support them if they cannot work during their self-isolation period.  Click on the link above to apply.
• Penalties for those breaking the rules, including fines on a sliding scale from £1,000 up to a maximum of £10,000 for multiple breaches.
• A new legal obligation on employers that they must not knowingly enable or encourage their employees to break the law on self-isolation.