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As part of step 4 of the Government’s COVID-19 roadmap, double vaccinated people will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, the Health and Social Care Secretary has confirmed today (Tuesday 6 July).
The new rules will come into effect from 16 August, if the Government takes a decision to move into step 4. To ensure young people can make the most of their education as restrictions continue to ease, the Government also plans to exempt those aged under 18 from self-isolation if they are a close contact.
Introducing this exemption in August will enable even more people to have received both doses of the vaccine, significantly reducing the risk of severe illness and providing the fullest protection possible for people across the country. The NHS COVID-19 app will update in August in line with the new guidance on self-isolation for close contacts.
Young people and double vaccinated individuals identified as close contacts will continue to be advised to take a PCR test, to detect the virus and variants of concern. Anyone who tests positive following the PCR test will still be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status.
The phenomenal success of the UK’s vaccine programme – with over 86% of adults receiving their first doses – has allowed the government to continue easing restrictions and to remove self-isolation rules for double jabbed people, and move from a rules-based system to personal responsibility. The latest data shows that 27,000 lives have already been saved by COVID-19 vaccines and over 7 million infections prevented, with vaccines reducing the chance of COVID-19 infection by almost 80% after two doses and only 35% after one.
As of 6 July, over 79 million vaccine doses have now been administered in the UK, and three in five adults have received two doses. To continue to receive the fullest possible protection against COVID-19, all adults are encouraged to get their vaccine.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid told Parliament:
Asking people with COVID-19 and their close contacts to self-isolate has played a critical role in helping us get this virus under control, and I’m so grateful to the millions of people across the UK who have made sacrifices to keep the virus at bay.
Thanks to the UK’s phenomenal vaccine programme and the huge wall of defence, we can safely take steps to reduce self-isolation for people who are fully vaccinated, and those aged under 18, and instead advise people to take a PCR test. Positive cases will still need to self-isolate.
Step-by-step, and jab-by-jab, we’re replacing the temporary protection of the restrictions, with the long-term protection of a vaccine.
Regular testing remains critical to controlling the virus as restrictions ease. Advising double vaccinated contacts and children to take a PCR test with a requirement to self-isolate for those who test positive will reduce the risk of onward transmission. Alongside PCR testing, everyone in England is encouraged to take up the government’s offer of free, twice weekly rapid testing.
As with fully vaccinated adults, children who are close contacts of a positive case will instead be advised to take a PCR test. If the PCR test is positive they will need to self-isolate, as any other positive case.
Robust protective measures are in place across schools, including twice weekly testing to protect students and prevent transmission. NHS Test and trace will continue to provide age appropriate advice for testing in schools in the coming months.
The Government will make an announcement on whether the UK will move into step 4 of the COVID-19 roadmap on 12th July on the basis of its four tests
Children who are aged under 5 years old who are identified as close contacts would only be advised to take a PCR test if the positive case is in their own household.
If someone gets their second dose just before, or after, the 16th of August, they’ll need to wait until two weeks after they get the second jab to benefit from these new freedoms so the vaccine has time to build the maximum possible protection.
Press release
The public and interested parties are being asked to contribute their views on the potential change of ownership of the Channel Four Television Corporation (Channel 4).
Today the government has launched a public consultation on the future ownership of Channel 4, as part of the government’s review of public service broadcasting. The consultation will consider both the ownership and remit of Channel 4.
The current strength and variety of the UK’s TV production sector is in part thanks to the role of Channel 4 which the government wants to protect. However, the fast evolving media landscape, with increased competition and changing audience habits, is posing serious challenges to traditional ‘linear’ TV broadcasters, which means it is now time to review its ownership structure.
The government wants to preserve Channel 4’s status as a public service broadcaster producing original, distinctive content as well as high quality news and current affairs serving every corner of the country.
It believes private-sector ownership of Channel 4 and a change to its remit could enable it to thrive in the decades to come as a successful and sustainable public service broadcaster.
Private ownership could benefit Channel 4 by enabling it to access new capital and diversify its income streams to give it a greater and more resilient financial base from which to invest in new technology, content and programming. It could also help the broadcaster form new strategic partnerships and reach international markets.
The government is seeking views and supporting evidence on what the economic, social and cultural costs and benefits could be if it were to release Channel 4 from the constraints of public ownership.
Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
The media world has changed immeasurably since Channel 4’s creation in the early 1980s, but whilst we have more choice today the need for a strong and successful Channel 4 continues.
So in the face of rising global competition, now is the right time to strengthen UK public service broadcasters and consider releasing Channel 4 from the constraints of public ownership, enabling it to thrive for the next 40 years and beyond.
All responses received as part of the consultation will be carefully analysed before the government publishes its response and sets out next steps.
Published 6 July 2021
Thank you, Madam President.
COVID-19 has seriously impacted women, who typically hold informal jobs that are more vulnerable to economic shocks and bear a disproportionate share of unpaid care responsibilities. The UN forecasts that 47 million more women and girls will be pushed below the poverty line because of the pandemic.
For a gender-equal recovery, we must redouble efforts to address barriers limiting women and girls social and economic participation.
This is why the UK is championing access to 12 years of quality, safe education for every girl, and their transition from education to work. The UK is also supporting bilateral partner governments ‘social protection programmes and policies through the £19 million Gender-Responsive Social Protection programme: to increase women’s economic participation, including their savings, investments in productive assets and employment levels – and reduce and recognise their unpaid care responsibilities.
Through partnering with the private sector we can get women back into better jobs and reduce poverty. Under our Presidency, the G7 announced a new $15bn of funding over 2 years through the 2X Challenge, to support women in developing countries with improved access to leadership opportunities, quality employment, flexible working, finance and affordable products and services.
I would like to ask the panel for evidence of what has worked at scale to address barriers and ensure that women and girls benefit from a just economic recovery. Are there good examples of positive gendered responses that have made the most difference?
Thank you.
A man has been fined £1,000 for dumping waste on private land in Raynes Park in the London Borough of Merton, following a trial at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on 1 July, 2021. He was also ordered to pay £500 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.
Simon O’Donnell, 31, of Latimer Road, London W10 6QX, was found guilty of his part in the illegal dumping by a number of individuals of mixed waste at a site in West Barnes Lane, Raynes Park, Wimbledon, Merton.
His crime was brought to light thanks to the help of a local resident who reported a group of travellers occupying private land at West Barnes Lane, which prompted an investigation by the Environment Agency.
The court heard how in May 2018 a group of men, women and children moved onto the site with caravans and trailers, and subsequently used the space as a dumping ground for illegal waste. O’Donnell was identified as one of the individuals involved in the depositing of waste thanks to the efforts of the resident in question who photographed and documented the illegal activity.
The resident observed the men on the site removing fencing to access land to dump builder’s waste including disused furniture, wood, plaster, used oil, metal, plastics and sacks of rubble. Photographs the resident took showed O’Donnell using a Ford Transit drop-side van to deposit waste on 29 May 2018.
The travellers left the site after approximately a week. They left behind a significant quantity of waste. The clear-up and associated costs to the landowner totalled in excess of £100,000.
In his sentencing remarks, Deputy District Judge Bisgrove described the unlawful depositing of waste as:
A selfish, lazy and inconsiderate way of earning a living.
Daniel Ketteridge, Enforcement Team Leader for the Environment Agency, said:
We hope that today’s ruling sends out a strong message that we will search out and prosecute anyone found to be dumping waste illegally.
The operation of a waste site without regard for the environment and the law have the potential to harm our natural resources, blight communities and undermine the legitimate businesses that do follow the rules.
Our role is to protect the environment for people and wildlife, so we won’t hesitate to take action against those who put it risk. And to businesses flouting the rules our message is clear: you won’t get away with it.
O’Donnell was prosecuted by the Environment Agency as part of Operation Angola, targeting criminal gangs who dump significant amounts of waste across the South East.
O’Donnell was guilty of unlawfully depositing waste contrary to s.33 (1) (a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on 29/5/18.