Sad day for NHS isolation notifications.

The isolation note service has closed
You cannot get a new coronavirus (COVID-19) isolation note because the service has now closed.

You can still get NHS advice about COVID-19 and COVID-19 services, including testing, vaccination and the NHS COVID Pass.

Check an isolation note
If you are an employer, you can still check an isolation note is valid by using the check an isolation note service.

An isolation note may be used as proof that an employee is unable to attend work due to COVID-19. It is an employer's discretion whether to accept an isolation note as a form of evidence for sickness leave.

https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

Check an isolation note
Use this service if you are an employer and want to check that a coronavirus isolation note is valid.

If an employee is well enough to work, and can work from home, they do not need an isolation note.

An isolation note may be used as proof that an employee is unable to attend work due to coronavirus (COVID-19). It is at an employer's discretion whether to accept an isolation note as a form of evidence for sickness leave.

This service will be closing on 2nd May 2023.
Before you start
To check an isolation note is valid, you need:

the 16 digit reference number on the isolation note
the employee’s date of birth
Start now

Not sure what happens now that the DWP has no guidance other than the NHS guidance?



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-living-with-covid-19.

So the is the Pandemic/Covid 19 problem solved then?...

As I have been waiting for the latest strain to be unleashed???
Or can I hear the sound of a lorry reversing alert.

Pintel wrote:So the is the Pandemic/Covid 19 problem solved then?...

As I have been waiting for the latest strain to be unleashed???
Or can I hear the sound of a lorry reversing alert.

It's already here.
Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, the strain was first identified in January and has been monitored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 22 March, which upgraded it to a “variant of interest” in mid-April.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-living-with-covid-19.

Removing the last domestic restrictions
The Government will remove remaining domestic restrictions in England, subject to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny.

From 24 February, the Government will:

a. Remove the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. After 5 days, they may choose to take a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) followed by another the next day - if both are negative, and they do not have a temperature, they can safely return to their normal routine. Those who test positive should avoid contact with anyone in an at risk group, including if they live in the same household. There will be specific guidance for staff in particularly vulnerable services, such as adult social care, healthcare, and prisons and places of detention.
b. No longer ask fully vaccinated close contacts and those under the age of 18 to test daily for 7 days, and remove the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate. Guidance will set out the precautions that those who live in the same household as someone who has COVID-19, or who have stayed overnight in the same household, are advised to take to reduce risk to other people. Other contacts of people with COVID-19 will be advised to take extra care in following general guidance for the public on safer behaviours.
c. End self-isolation support payments and national funding for practical support. The medicine delivery service will no longer be available. People who were instructed to self-isolate before this date will still be able to claim support payments within the next 42 days.
d. Revoke The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 3) Regulations. Local authorities will continue to manage local outbreaks of COVID-19 in high risk settings as they do with other infectious diseases.
From 24 March, the COVID-19 provisions within Statutory Sick Pay and Employment and Support Allowance regulations will end. People with COVID-19 may still be eligible, subject to the normal conditions of entitlement.

From 1 April, the Government will update guidance setting out the ongoing steps that people with COVID-19 should take to minimise contact with other people. This will align with the changes to testing set out later in this chapter.

Removing the last domestic restrictions
The Government will remove remaining domestic restrictions in England, subject to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny.

From 24 February, the Government will:

a. Remove the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. After 5 days, they may choose to take a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) followed by another the next day - if both are negative, and they do not have a temperature, they can safely return to their normal routine. Those who test positive should avoid contact with anyone in an at risk group, including if they live in the same household. There will be specific guidance for staff in particularly vulnerable services, such as adult social care, healthcare, and prisons and places of detention.


So we no longer legally need to tell DWP if we need to self-isolating due to covid or symptoms of covid-19. They have removed this legislation meaning there is no legislation other than The NHS guidance and the government referral to  

Ref: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19

What to do if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, and have not taken a COVID-19 test
"Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you no longer feel unwell."

The DWP no longer has legal requirements to follow regarding self-isolation and is relying on its own and old advice (Last updated
10 June 2022) and the NHS advises that states.

"If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people."

If you break this guidance you are liable for a £50 pound fine from the police (ask Boris Johnson) So if you are asked/forced to go into said office/ JCP then they are asking you to break the law and promote the spread of respiratory-infection-including-covid-19.

You can't make this shit up they have literally said we can't force you to come in for appointments if ill because there are no legal requirements to do so now, only old guidance from us and the NHS, and if we ask you to come in then we will be asking you to break the law. lol.

Maybe you could walk around with a Lepers Bell around you're neck, and a t-shirt with Covid 19 on it. So at least you informed people of your health status ....

Sorry I can't.

I'm self isolating and I don't have to legally tell you that!

These cunts make it up all along remember following that stay at home protect the NHS text message while Boris and his cronies having the party of his life that why I switched off the emergency alert they fooled me once not twice.
Whatever the government says do the complete opposite.

New fit note reported to jobcentre yesterday. Face to face appointment for today was missed. Then I got a note in my journal saying fit note accepted.
No new appointment and no sanction or any questions asked.
Had the penny finally dropped with DWP?

One point here is the 'Covid' situation over.
As I was in my local Hospital today, and was asked by the receptionist, 'if I have had symptoms of Covid?'

So my question is ( roll) is the Covid situation over ?????

Nope. Its mutations are worse but the government is not talking about it anymore. Unless they are trying to show Boris Jonson up.

As said above It is no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate but there is still a health and safety and moral issue along with NHS guidance "Adults and children who have symptoms of or test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people." The dwp have to follow this " The government has tried to remove restrictions but once again have only done half a job as half of the old advice still remains. It is still an offense for an employer to knowingly prevent a person with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19 from self-isolating even though that person is no longer legally required to do so.
If an employer is reasonably believed to be in breach of this requirement, they may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). New fines for those breaching rules will start at

£1,000 for a first FPN
£2,000 for a second FPN
£4,000 for a third FPN
£10,000 for a fourth and subsequent FPNs

So if you have symptoms of covid you should follow the government's guidance and avoid people and self-isolate if positive. How they will ever be able to check your symptoms or test if you are positive if they have to avoid you is a very clever loophole.

Thanks #Oneman

You can see why this old-pirate is confused . As some Covid regulations remain, and some dissolved.... Unless there keeping it on the back boiler incase they need 'Lockdown 4.0'????

An estimated 1.9 million people living in private households in the UK (2.9% of the population) were experiencing self-reported long COVID (symptoms continuing for more than four weeks after the first confirmed or suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) infection that was not explained by something else) as of 5 March 2023

The unemployment rate of the United Kingdom was 3.9 percent in March 2023, an increase on the previous month, when it was 3.8 percent, but still one of the lowest unemployment rates since 1974. By comparison, in the three months to January 2021, the unemployment rate was five percent, the highest since August 2016. Before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK had relatively low levels of unemployment, comparable with the mid-1970s. Between March 1974 and the most recent month, unemployment was highest in the Spring of 1984 when the unemployment rate hit 11.9 percent, with noticeable peaks also occurring in early 1993 and late 2011.

I will rigorously follow the health and safety and NHS guidance that states. "Adults and children who have symptoms of or test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people."

Who in their right mind would argue with this recommendation?

Only the DWP and Restart parasites refuse this! The probation service and judges in crown courts accept fit notes not to attend court or do community service. This is from a professional Doctor or from another health professional but DWP need their own? why?
The reason is to be cruel and cause hardship and remove your entitled benefits no matter how few people it involves.
Why do you think we have a cost of living crisis? Did all the supermarkets just put up the prices by 40% for no reason, all at once?
No, it's to pay back the abused Furlow scheme and business grants that the government generously gave out in lockdown even though they did and still don't have a clue what is going on.

When was the last time you heard of anything coming from Ukraine before this happened? Where is our huge north sea oil industry? what happened to that? Why did fuel prices go up so much but suddenly gone down lately if nothing has changed with Russia and Ukraine war?
Why are we taken for mugs?

A country of points here. Did the Covid situation 'fizzle' out, due to the great washed getting frustrated with all the restrictions. Especially when are leaders where not following the rules, and it was bad for business?  As you suggested #Oneman, some gov departments think the Covid situation is over. Whilst others still see it as a problem? Which one is correct? We need an official statement upon this? Especially if you end up with a fine for breaking Covid rules.

While I am 'venting my spleen'.
You also mentioned the 'furlow' scheme, I have similar concerns about the 'Cost of Living' payment/Q-E (Quantitative easing)
You could imagine the public will have to pay this back in some form or the other? Another 'stealth' tax 🤬 on the side lines. Just hope its not a 'Turnip Tax' of Britain's much loved root vegetable....

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_easing