U.K. National Health Service Launches Online Isolation Notes To Help Employees Provide Proof Of Coronavirus Work Absences

On March 20, 2020, the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) launched online isolation notes to enable employees to provide evidence to their employers that they have been medically advised to self-isolate due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

For the first seven days of absence from work, an employee can self-certify and does not need to provide medical evidence to his or her employer. After that time, an employer may ask for medical evidence of ongoing sickness. Whether the absence is related to the employee having symptoms of COVID-19 or living with someone who has symptoms, an isolation note can be used to provide evidence of the medical advice to self-isolate.

The majority of people infected with COVID-19 will experience symptoms for about seven days; however, according to scientists, 15 percent of those infected will have symptoms for longer than that. Coupled with the social-distancing measures in place, isolation notes can ease the pressure on the NHS.

An isolation note can be obtained without having to contact a doctor, which will eliminate the need for people to leave their homes. The isolation note service can be accessed via the NHS website or the 111 online coronavirus service, as well as the NHS app.

An employee will be required to answer some personal questions before the isolation note is...