LTB 339/21 - ****Close Contact, Self-Isolation Rule Change Update for England Announced (Updating advice in LTB 333/21): Close Contact, Self-Isolation Rules for Northern Ireland Announced ****

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-339-21-clos ... announced/

LTB 339/21 – Close Contact, Self-Isolation Rule Change Update for England Announced (Updating advice in LTB 333/21): Close Contact, Self-Isolation Rules for Northern Ireland Announced
No. 339/21

13th August 2021

For the attention of: Postal Branches

Dear Colleague,

Close Contact, Self-Isolation Rule Change Update for England Announced (Updating advice in LTB 333/21): Close Contact, Self-Isolation Rules for Northern Ireland Announced

Further to LTB 333/21 issued on 12 August, a further announcement by the UK government has been made, further amending the Close Contact, Self-Isolation Rules for England. This updates the advice published in LTB 333/21. (viewtopic.php?f=81&t=101509)

The Northern Ireland administration have now announced their rules on the subject on close contact self-isolation also.

Royal Mail Group have accordingly issued management guidance and this is to update CWU Branches and Reps.

ENGLAND

The further change to the rules for England only (as published in LTB 333/21) is in respect of those people who are already or currently self-isolating. The rule now is that people who are fully vaccinated (that is they have had their two vaccinations jabs) and their self-isolation period began before 16 August and was due to end after 16 August, will now be able to end the self-isolation on 16 August and return to work, so long as they have no Covid-19 symptoms. Currently in the other the nations of the UK (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) people should continue to self-isolate.

Under-18s will no longer have to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone with Covid-19. Instead, PCR tests will be used to test if someone is positive, as set out in LTB 333/21 although guidance is different across the nations.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland Self-Isolation New Rules from Monday 16 August 2021 (announced yesterday 12.08.21)

Fully-vaccinated (two vaccinations) people who are a close contact of a Covid-19 case will no longer have to self-isolate
Close-contact people will still be advised to take a PCR test on day two and day eight.
People who test positive, must continue to self-isolate, even if they do not have symptoms.

Attachments:
RMG Communication 12.08.21 on new Self-Isolation Rules for England(Update) and Northern Ireland. (https://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... d-N....pdf)
Yours sincerely,

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[Schiff]

Knowsley council have already said that from Monday, anyone who needs to isolate because they haven't been vaccinated will have to use annual leave or take sick absence, with the associated disciplinaries if they have too much sick. The justification is that they could have avoided the absence by getting vaccinated.

How long before other employers, including RM, follow suit?