Coronavirus: Quarantine exemption for NHS and care workers scrapped, government announces

Ministers have scrapped a quarantine exemption for health and social care workers arriving in England from high-risk countries amid fears of a spike in coronavirus infections.

The move, which comes into effect on Friday, follows the sudden decision to reimpose stringent restrictions on tourists re-entering the country from Spain – throwing travellers’ plans into chaos.

It means those working in NHS and social care settings will be forced to comply with the mandatory 14-day self-isolation period if they are currently on holiday in a country considered high-risk, including Spain.

Announcing the abrupt change in policy, the Department for Health and Social Care said the move will bring health professionals in line with the general public and “further protects the NHS and social care system from the spread of coronavirus from overseas”.

The decision to exempt health and social care staff was made in June before ministers unveiled a list of countries the public could travel to without having to self-isolate for 14-days on return to the UK.

“This was to help ensure health and care workers travelling back from overseas could return to England to provide essential healthcare, helping to strengthen the country’s response to the coronavirus outbreak,” the department added.

“Following the reopening of travel routes, and as more people begin to holiday abroad, the government has removed this exemption and, from 31 July, all registered health and social care professionals must lawfully self-isolate when returning to England from a high-risk country.”

Earlier, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said there were signs of a “second wave starting to roll across Europe”, adding: “It is something I worry about and I worry about it because we can see it happening.”

Following the decision to scrap an airbridge agreement with Spain and reimpose quarantine measures for those returning to the UK from the popular European tourist destination, it is expected the government will advise against travel to other countries currently on the safe flight list in the coming days.

On Thursday, the Scottish government said passengers coming from Luxembourg will have to quarantine for two weeks after an “increase in coronavirus cases” in the country.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "This decision is based on the latest available data from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and it gives another clear indication that the virus is active and still spreading.

"We have always maintained that we are closely monitoring the pandemic situation in all countries and we will impose quarantine requirements as necessary in a bid to protect the public.

"This virus is showing a resurgence in areas and it should not be forgotten how deadly it remains. Our priority to is suppress the virus, prevent it from being transmitted and protecting public health."