The key dates for changes outlined by the government are Thursday 24th February, Thursday 24th March and Friday 1st April.
Changes from 24th February
The legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive Covid test will end – instead being replaced with guidance to stay at home
The legal requirement for workers to inform their employer that they are required to self-isolate will end
Contact tracing will end
The £500 self-isolation support payment for people on low incomes will end
Changes from 24th March
Statutory sick pay (SSP) will revert to its pre-pandemic rules – with SSP payments no longer being payable from day one due to Covid-related illness, instead payable from day four
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will revert to its pre-pandemic rules
Changes from April 1st
Free lateral flow tests will end for the general public on April 1st
Free PCR tests will end for the general public on April 1st
The NHS Covid Pass will no longer be recommended to certain venues
Employers will no longer have to explicitly consider Covid as a separate risk when working conducting health and safety risk assessments
Government guidance to stay at home after a positive Covid test will end
Find out more about The Government’s Living with Covid plan and the end of legal restrictions here.
