Coronavirus emergency law proposals published by the Government
Police and immigration officers will be able to detain anyone infectious with the deadly coronavirus disease and put them in isolation when new emergency laws come into force to prevent the spread of the illness.
The Government says the new laws are intended to protect life and the nation’s public health and ensure NHS and social care staff are supported to deal with significant extra pressure on the health system.
The bill will allow recently retired NHS staff and social workers to return to work without any negative repercussions to their pensions.
NHS staff will also be covered by a state-backed insurance scheme to ensure they can care for patients if, for example, they are moving outside their day-to-day duties while making use of their skills and training.
Paperwork and administrative requirements will be reduced to help doctors discharge patients more quickly when clinically appropriate, to free up hospital space for those who are very ill and enable clinicians to focus on delivering care.
Volunteers will have extra employment safeguards, allowing them to pause their main jobs for up to 4 weeks while they help care for patients in the health and care system, and will receive a flat rate of compensation to mitigate lost earnings and expenses.
Changes to councils’ duties under the Care Act will enable them to prioritise people with the greatest care needs and make the best use of the adult social care workforce.
Live updates on COVID-19 cases near you
England: 1,950
- London: 480
- South East: 173
- Midlands: 129
- North East and Yorkshire: 86
- North West: 83
- East of England: 81
- South West: 77
Scotland: 171
Wales: 124
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The bill will also ensure statutory sick pay for those self-isolating without symptoms from day one, allow small businesses to reclaim statutory sick pay payments from HMRC and allow more phone or video hearings for court cases to stop the spread of the virus in courts.
It will also enable Border Force to temporarily suspend operations at airports or transport hubs if there are insufficient resources to maintain border security.
The bill allows the four UK governments to switch on these new powers when they are needed and, crucially, to switch them off again once they are no longer necessary, based on the advice of the four Chief Medical Officers.
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Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "We are doing everything we can to protect lives and support the NHS, guided by the best scientists and clinicians in the world.
"The new measures we will be introducing in the Emergency Coronavirus Bill this week will only be used when it is absolutely necessary and must be timed to maximise their effectiveness, but crucially they give the government the powers it needs to protect lives.
"By planning for the worst and working for the best we will get through this, but this is a national effort and we must all work together ‒ from businesses prioritising the welfare of their employees, to people thoroughly washing their hands.
"I also want to pay tribute to our brilliantly selfless NHS and social care staff who are working tirelessly to care for our friends and loved ones in this unprecedented period."
Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty said: "Our approach to responding to this outbreak has and will remain driven by the scientific and clinical evidence so we do the right thing at the right time.
"The measures included in this bill will help support our frontline workers, protect the public and delay the peak of the virus to the summer months when the NHS is typically under less pressure.
"It is important everyone continues to play their part by avoiding non-essential contact and travel as well as washing their hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water."
- Coronavirus
- NHS
- Immigration
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