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Covid law v Covid myth

23 July 2021 / Fred Philpott
Issue: 7942 / Categories: Opinion , Covid-19 , Public , Criminal
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The law on self-isolation should be clear, but is it? Fred Philpott investigates

The message is: ‘You need to self-isolate’. This is the notification you get if you have used the NHS Covid-19 smartphone app and someone else who has checked in at the same venue within a certain time span has tested positive for Covid. The word ‘need’ is interesting. It can be used and taken to mean a benign suggestion such as ‘you need a drink’ or ‘you need to get some rest’. Alternatively, it can have a mandatory connotation which is clearly the way it is intended in respect of Covid.

The new regime

Nearly all legal restrictions relating to Covid were due to have ended on 19 July 2021. However, the strongest possible ‘advice’ is now in force from the government. It may be the ‘right’ thing to do is to follow the advice as regards, for example, wearing a mask on a crowded train.

This change in regime gives an opportunity to begin to

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Sports, education and charities practice welcomes senior associate

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Partner and head of commercial litigation joins in Chelmsford

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Firm strengthens Glasgow corporate practice with partner hire

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
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