This page was last updated on 19 July 2021 at 12.45
England is now in step 4 of the government’s roadmap. This means that most legal restrictions have been lifted.
Isolating and testing remains in place, and the government also advises that:
- If you have been working from home, your employer should make a return to the workplace gradual over the summer.
- You should consider wearing a face covering in crowded areas.
- You should continue to minimise social contacts.
Employers still have a legal duty to keep workplaces safe and to keep their employees safe whilst at work and when travelling to work.
The government has identified some people who are more vulnerable than most to becoming very poorly if they contract Covid-19. These people are classed as being ‘clinically vulnerable’ and need to take particular care to avoid contact with the disease.
Current government advice for people who are aged over 70 or who are classed as ‘clinically vulnerable‘ is that you:
- should be especially careful to follow the rules and minimise your contacts with others
- should continue to wash your hands carefully and more frequently than usual and maintain thorough cleaning of frequently touched areas in your home and/or workspace
- observe the social distancing rules carefully
Who is classed as ‘clinically vulnerable’?
The government has advised that ‘clinically vulnerable’ people are anyone who is pregnant, anyone aged over 70, or anyone who is aged under 70 but has any of the health conditions below:
- a lung condition that’s not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
- heart disease (such as heart failure)
- diabetes
- chronic kidney disease
- liver disease (such as hepatitis)
- a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy)
- a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections
- anyone taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids)
- very obese (a BMI of 40 or above)
- are pregnant
