Duty to self-isolate becomes law today – with £10,000 fines for non-compliance
Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus or is contacted by NHS Test & Trace must self-isolate from today (28 September) or be fined thousands of pounds.
From today (28 September), anyone who tests positive for coronavirus or is contacted by NHS Test & Trace must self-isolate – or be fined thousands of pounds.
The government has turned the moral obligation of isolation into a legal duty this week – with those who don’t follow instructions liable for immediate £1,000 fines (increasing up to £10,000 for repeat offenders).
People on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income will also be able to claim £500 Test and Trace Support Payments.
Funds will be available from 12 October, but anyone who has to self-isolate from today will receive backdated payments.
Just under 4 million people who are in receipt of benefits in England will be eligible.
ADVERTISEMENT
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Anyone can catch coronavirus and anyone can spread it. We all have a crucial part to play in keeping the number of new infections down and protecting our loved ones.
“As cases rise it is imperative we take action, and we are introducing a legal duty to self-isolate when told to do so, with fines for breaches and a new £500 support payment for those on lower incomes who can’t work from home while they are self-isolating.
ADVERTISEMENT
“These simple steps can make a huge difference to reduce the spread of the virus, but we will not hesitate to put in place further measures if cases continue to rise.”
The government has said it is taking a “number of steps” to ensure compliance and tackle the growing numbers of cases in the UK, which toppled 6,000 on both Saturday and Sunday.
From today, NHS Test and Trace call handlers are increasing contact with those self-isolating; police will check compliance in ‘highest incidence areas and in high-risk groups’; and investigations are being launched into ‘high-profile and egregious cases of non-compliance’.
ADVERTISEMENT
The new NHS tracking app also launched last week, receiving over 10 million downloads so far.
Pippa Fowles / No 10 Downing Street
The government has called self-isolation “one of the most powerful tools” for controlling the transmission of COVID-19.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the new law was “about saving lives.”
“Everyone must take personal responsibility and self-isolate if they test positive or if told to do so by NHS Test and Trace,” said the cabinet minister.
“For those who fail to do so, the police will enforce the law. These new fines are a clear sign that we will not allow those who break the rules to reverse the hard-won progress made by the law-abiding majority.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Employers who force or allow staff to come to work when they should be self-isolating will also be liable for fines of up to £10,000.
The self-isolation period is 14 days.
The government’s instructions are as follows:
“If someone is instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, because they have had close contact with someone outside their household who has tested positive, they are legally required to self-isolate for the period notified by NHS Test and Trace.
“Both household and non-household contacts must self-isolate for the full period, regardless of whether they have symptoms and, if they develop symptoms and take a test, regardless of whether any test taken gives a negative result.”
News
Work on Greater Manchester’s very own ‘Tebay-style’ motorway service station is finally underway
Danny Jones
You heard us right: the time has come for Greater Manchester to level up its service station game, as work on the long-talked-about Tebay-style venue over in Trafford has finally begun.
Those motorway trips are about to get even better.
We first heard about the vision to provide a brand-new Tatton Services back in March 2022, with the Westmorland Family – known not only for Tebay but the similarly popular Gloucester and Cairns Lodge equivalents – promising to deliver a new top-quality stop-off point in the region.
It’s one that people across the North West have been keeping a keen eye on ever since, and now the dial is finally moving on the major project. You can see more detailed images here:
With the Westmorlands and the official Tatton Estate agreeing a partnership that weighs heavily in the former’s favour, the new services will be located around the M56 near the Bowdon Roundabout in Altrincham.
Bordering the electoral ward of Trafford and Cheshire, it is set to be located between junctions seven and eight of the M6 motorway near neighbouring Millington and Rostherne.
It’s estimated to cost more than £65 million and will be one of the most expensive developments of its kind the country has ever seen, with only the pending Chalfont St Peter station by Extra Motorway Services Group set to be more expensive (approximately £90m).
As per Forecourt Trader, the blueprints include a dedicated 100-room hotel, one of their trademark farm shops that those travelling rave about so much, a petrol station, as well as 40 charging bays for electric vehicles. Service station facilities have come a long way since 1972, when Tebay first opened.
However, while plans are at long last getting underway, it will be arriving much later than expected, with the initial opening date slated for some time later this year; instead, it is now they are now aiming for spring 2028, meaning you’ll just have to make do with the OG for now.
We promise this was purely a coincidence on our way back from Kendal Calling 2026, by the way…
Speaking on behalf of family, the Tatton Services Proposal team, and members of the estate, Westmorland chair Sarah Dunning said in a recent statement on the update: “We’re very excited to bring our proper food offer and ethos to Cheshire.
“From day one, this is about creating something rooted in the local landscape and community. We have committed to working with at least 70 producers within 30 miles of the site – and we hope that number will grow as relationships flourish.
“We’re also creating over 400 skilled jobs for local people, alongside apprenticeships and training programmes designed to build meaningful, long-term careers in the food industry. Our ambition is not only to serve travellers but to create opportunities and lasting value for the communities around us.”
What do you make of the proposed plans for the ‘next Tebay‘?
Major incident declared in response to Greater Manchester wildfires ‘stood down’
Emily Sergeant
The major incident that was declared in response to several wildfires across Greater Manchester has now officially been ‘stood down’.
Nearly a month on from the first blaze breaking out near the popular beauty spot of Dovestone Reservoir in Oldham on 11 July, which then unfortunately went on to merge with a fire at Tintwistle and Swineshaw, prompting a major multi-agency response, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The fire service says it has made the decision to ‘stand down’ the major incident that was declared in response to the fires.
It comes after firefighters worked hard in challenging conditions to contain the fire and prevent further spread across the moorland.
Greater Manchester moorland fires are still burning after more than two weeks / Credit: GMFRS
Specialist wildfire resources, command support units, drone technology, and partner agencies were also deployed over the past month as operations continued across multiple sectors.
While the major incident has been stood down, however, GMFRS says it wants to be clear that the fire is ‘not over’ yet.
Issuing a formal statement on the current situation as it stands, GMFRS said: “Reflecting the significant progress that has been made over recent weeks, the fire is now largely contained and the risk of further significant spread reduced substantially.
“This milestone has only been possible because of the outstanding efforts of firefighters, landowners, and partner agencies and organisations, who have shown incredible professionalism, commitment and resilience throughout a challenging and prolonged incident.
“Whilst standing down the major incident is an important step forward, the incident is not over.
“Fire is still present beneath the surface so firefighters will remain at the scene to monitor and contain any fire spread, while working alongside our partners to support ongoing recovery efforts.”
The Manc -
28th September 2020 
