Health and care workers must now self-isolate for 14 days on return to England from high-risk countries

Registered health and care professionals travelling to England from high-risk countries will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed.

The move brings these professionals in line with the general public and further protects the NHS and social care system, as well as public health, from the spread of coronavirus from overseas, says the UK Government.

Although an exemption was originally introduced at the beginning of June, which meant registered health and care professionals did not have to self-isolate when travelling to England from overseas, as of the 31st of July, health and care professionals will now be expected to self-isolate for 14 days on return from high-risk countries.

According to DHSC, health and care workers were originally exempt from needing to self-isolate when returning from overseas to ensure they could quickly continue providing essential healthcare in England.

However, following the reopening of travel routes, and as more people begin to holiday abroad, DHSC has removed this exemption and now all registered health and care professionals must lawfully self-isolate when returning to England from a high-risk country.

The UK Government currently has a list of countries exempt from self-isolation measures available, which it says is constantly reviewed and updated to reflect the global COVID-19 landscape.

Health and care professionals returning from a country which has a travel corridor to the UK – countries and territories from where people can travel to England and may not have to self-isolate – will not be required to self-isolate on return.